Current Events > Is it offensive to ask someone what their race or ethnicity is?

(+) Yeah! (+)

not necessarily, but if you ask where they're from, and they say something like, "here", and you ask them where they're really from, then yes.

Depends on context

not necessarily, but if you ask where they're from, and they say something like, "here", and you ask them where they're really from, then yes.

That one still kinda depends on context.

If i ask someone where they're from and they say the US(A), I'm gonna ask what state they're from.

Or if they say a State, I may ask which part of said state. For example, your experience in Georgia is going to vary drastically if you're from Atlanta vs being an hour north of the Florida-Georgia line or where I'm from an hour north of Atlanta.

Sometimes it isn't trying to dig to justify a stereotype or being offensive, but trying to learn more about them and see if you can relate with them more or see if they're from somewhere you've actually heard of in a country/state (which for Americans is kinda of the status quo to ask each other. You can say you're from Ohio, but people still want to know if you're from Cleveland... Cincy... Toledo)

If you're white, nobody asks you about your race or ethnicity out of the blue.
If you're black, same.

Nah, this is a very different context we're talking about. It's people that basically go "I insist that you must be an immigrant based on how you look. So tell me what country you're actually from" which is all kinds of racist

In a hispanic neighborhood, it just kinda comes up in conversation regardless, since we run the whole gamut of shading. Never had much outside context on that, but yeah I can see how being the odd one out all the time would get annoying.

Totally makes sense, given how diverse "hispanic" truly is. =)
I was once working as a new accounts person in a bank and a Mexican couple came up to me to open an account. Husband started speaking rapidfire Spanish at me, so I had to stop him to let him know that I didn't speak Spanish, at which point he asks me, "Why not?". I tell him, "because I'm not Hispanic", and dude was looking at me like I was straight up lying lol

Depends on context

Depends on context

Why do you need to ask?

Honest question, but why is that even a subject of conversation with someone you barely know? And if someone you know well, why would you care now?

Ultimately, you should treat people the same regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of origin, etc but to act like those aren't important to people is dismissive almost to the point of being offensive.

Normal here to ask where you're from if you don't speak the local language.

Also, normal to ask where you're from if you can speak the local language but you don't look like one of us.

Coming up to me unprompted and asking me personal information when I don't even know you is even more offensive.

If you're white, nobody asks you about your race or ethnicity out of the blue.

Sounds like a timewaster.

That's what I was thinking.

I can only think of a handful of cases where it could be relevant and also not offensive, though. I guess one might be if they're asking if they should wear sunscreen, since white people sunburn way more easily than black people do. Dunno about anyone else though. I imagine they're mostly somewhere in between?

Because for better or worse, race/ethnicity is important to people. It can be a thing to bond deeper over.

Yes, it can be used to judge others negatively or impart unfair or unwarranted stereotypes on someone. however, it is important to people for a variety of reasons.

Ultimately, you should treat people the same regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of origin, etc but to act like those aren't important to people is dismissive almost to the point of being offensive.

This topic bringing back all types of bull shit like that. Someone asked me and m sister did we have the same father since she was lighter then me.

Person asking: What is your back ground:
Me: I'm Black.
Person asking: But I mean really are you Black Black.

Totally makes sense, given how diverse "hispanic" truly is. =)
I was once working as a new accounts person in a bank and a Mexican couple came up to me to open an account. Husband started speaking rapidfire Spanish at me, so I had to stop him to let him know that I didn't speak Spanish, at which point he asks me, "Why not?". I tell him, "because I'm not Hispanic", and dude was looking at me like I was straight up lying lol

"What kinda Mexican are you?" is generally frowned upon in mixed company

Is there more than 1 kind of Mexican? I don't get it.