Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

When You Can't Quite Place Me, Ali Lauro

SURGE

I’m relatively used to being asked the question “what are you?”

It’s a strange question because it can mean so many different things. I’m a human? I identify as a female. I’m a college student. I’m an American. But I never say those things, because what they’re really asking is this: what race are you? [excerpt]