Are you guilty of stereotyping?

Have you ever been asked this question from a stranger, “Where are you from?” I’m sure most of us have been asked this question at bars, night clubs, streets, and strangers we met throughout life. Most likely you would answer with the city and or state you are from. And how often do you get asked that question twice from the same person in the same conversation? Rarely, right! I’m sure you don’t ask that question twice unless they are asking a non-Caucasian. I’m an American of Asian origin and I get asked this question a lot.

When most Caucasians asked me this question, they want to hear me answer that I’m from Asia. Today I volunteer at Maplewood for a community event open to the public and an attendee asked me where I’m from? I replied that I was from Sheboygan. He continues to asked, “Are you from Laos? Laos is country in Southeast Asia. I looked at him in silence and confusion. I replied with a warm smile, “No I’m not from Laos.” I don’t find it offensive. I am just puzzled by how stereotyping people are without knowing it. With that said how many of you find yourself in this situation where you expect an American of Asian origin to answer with an answer that includes a county other than the United States? Many people have this stereotype that all Asians are from Asia and all Hispanics are from Mexico without knowing that they are stereotyping. While most Asians will agree that they don’t have this stereotype of Caucasians are from Europe or other countries besides the US.

As an American of Asian origin (notice I did not say Asian American) I find it depressing that most Caucasians that I have encounter think that I’m not from this county. I am a citizen and I am from America. I am an American and proud to be a part of the Asian Race. Just because I’m part of the Asian race, this does not make me an Asian citizen. I don’t ask a Caucasian what part of Europe he or she is from unless I have a reason to do so.

It is very depressing to see that many Americans are still COLOR blinded. What makes America rich is the diversity of people. We are a country dreamed by many because we are full of life and that life is made up of the diverse races of the world. Although America, according to the census, has a higher percentage of Caucasians, does not mean that only Caucasians are from America. America is like a delicious salad. Mainly full of iceberg lettuce, a couple slices of tomatoes, some spinach leafs, some colorful slices of bell pepper, cucumber slices, mushrooms and other vegetables. All these vegetables are from different regions. It doesn’t really matter what region each vegetable is from, they all make up this delicious salad call America.