What are you? The ubiquitous question.
Laura Mariko Cheifetz Atlanta, GA I call myself hapa yonsei. I’m biracial white Jewish and Japanese American, fourth generation on both sides. However, there are...
Many feelings, but not enough words.
Tatyana Parrish, Valley Stream, NY. My six words are a fairly simple way to explain how complicated this matter is to me. My father was...
Not white enough, not Asian enough.
Robert Zeboski, Autin, TX. I am born from a Japanese father and an Irish German mother. I was adopted by my Polish step dad years...
Not just Japanese, I am Hapa.
Bryce, Denver, CO. ha•pa (hä’pä) adj. 1. Slang. of mixed racial heritage with partial roots in Asian and/or Pacific Islander ancestry.
I’ve grown to hate white people.
Chiyoko, USA. I am one quarter Japanese. I have auburn hair, light brown eyes, and freckles. I am five foot nine, and my skin is...
Chinese Japanese people just don’t know
Je Jack Vang, St. Paul, MN. When people see Hmong people the only thing they think of us is either Chinese or Japanese. It’s like...
You don’t look Japanese to me.
Tojo, Chicago, IL. Even the really Japanese people in my family don’t appear shockingly Asian so I can see where this comes form, but I...
Does Race Matter???
Mari Bailey Temecula, CA I am Japanese. I married to American man. However, when I tell people that Im married, people ask if Im married...
I’m not Japanese-American. I’m just Japanese.
Katie Hana Kuyama Northridge, CA I’ve always thought it weird to add “American” to my identity when my ethnicity is indeed Japanese. I’m a second...
You can’t be friends with her
Rosie W. Tucson, AZ When I was in the third grade in the sixties, my best friend and neighbor was Joyce, who was Japanese. She...
People of color are racist, too.
Lynn Lomibao Los Angeles, CA To clarify, my statement isn’t intended to create further divisions among “people of color” or to point the finger or...
Curiosity about race is only natural.
Keiko McCracken Anacortes, WA I am half white, half Japanese. I can’t count the times someone has asked about my race, commented on my looks...
I am only Asian to non-Asians.
Karina Irvine, CA I live in an area that has many distinct Asian groups who are first generation Americans: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. My...
White doesn’t define me, I’m American
RaSean Tisinger, Waleska, GA It always bothers me that we refer to ourselves as African American, Jewish American, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, European, ect. We are...
Ridiculously complicted; I can’t handle it!
Lindsey USA I wish that we were not so scared to talk about race. The worst thing you can call a person is “racist.” It...
MY GRANDSON IS NOT AN OTHER!
Henry Lonnemann San Mateo, CA When contacted by the census bureau I was thrilled. It was a pleasure to fulfill my civic duty, and exciting...
I don’t belong anywhere but here.
Elena Zamarripa-Gray CA, USA Where are you from? Everywhere and nowhere. My Mexican, basque, Japanese father and Scottish, Canadian mother made me tall, beautiful, and...
