I immigrated to the US at the age of 8. I’m Asian. I think I mastered the language at like probably 12 or 13.
I recall often in my life, people always assumed I didn’t speak English for some reason. Like before I had a chance to open my mouth, that question gets asked…
Not sure if it was because I was perhaps being quiet and unaware I was being quiet, so they made an assumption based on that, or if it had to do with how I look.
I kinda always felt a bit uncomfortable.
“Perpetual Foreigner” kind of.
I’m gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was just maybe I was quiet. But still. A white kid could stay quiet and I doubt the first thing a person assumes is oh he must not speak english.
Um… sorry if this is a weird ask, but those of you who live in immigration countries, have you ever been asked “Do you speak [Language of the country]?” Have you ever made an assumption about someone?
My wife’s half Japanese/Filipino, the later by birthplace and culture. As a middle-aged white guy I had no idea Asians faced much if any discrimination. Yeah, I’m eat up with privilege, not gonna apologize, born that way. I’d understood where black people stood since my early 20s, and much the same for Hispanics, not totally clueless.
At an interview a lady asked if she was Mexican or Asian, was visibly disgusted when she said “Asian”. So many stories like that. There’s a seriously insecure woman at her job, constantly on the prowl, attacks her at every opportunity. My wife is not one to pull the race card, I now take her seriously when she does. OTOH, even the Filipino women are back stabbing bitches around here!
She’s excelling at her job, works mostly from home for the credit union. I’ve trained such classes, 50K+ calls under my belt, I certify her as top notch. Customers are always asking if she’s Indian! Her accent is thick, but perfectly clear, and nothing like Indians or Hispanics. FFS, I don’t expect the man-on-the-street to be as good as I am as discerning ethnicity by looks or by accent, but Hindi or Spanish?! When people ask is she’s Hispanic of some sort, told her, “Do the slanty eye mime. Pointedly.” There’s your sign. (She calls girls with seriously slanty eyes “chinky eyes”. “BABY. You cannot say that in America.” “Why not? It’s true.” “It’s a racial slur.” <puzzled look>)