As a white American, I used to ask fellow Americans this question all the time until I realized some were offended by it.

FWIW, I was just making conversation and love hearing stories about historical immigration. Some people seemed to enjoy talking about their roots and culture.

Feel this so much. It’s also very tiring how touristy areas are so catered to white westerners. I always assumed traveling internationally I would feel out of place in a different way, but it’s been strange to just still feel like it’s still just white American or English folk everywhere and some times being kind of disrespectful of the cultural spaces we’re visiting 😫

Everyone has been really cool otherwise about my presence (mixed black woman traveling solo). And I don’t mind them asking where I’m from bc I am starkly grappling with being American atp.

THe US is thought of as an Anglo country, with some Blacks. So you need to let them know that it is more mixed these days including Latino

I just say California. People like that.

I get this all the time while traveling in Europe as a Latina from the US. “Oh but you don’t look American.” …? My response is usually “What exactly does an American look like?” (And they say people from the US are ignorant - lol)

Imagine how “hispanics” feel! In the US it’s typically understood as a race, but it’s a geographic category, and not only are there many races in that broad geography, but many different understandings of what race is.

Meh. I get asked that in the US often enough, I just understand that it’s people’s curiosity. Never really bothered me.

Try being an Indian from the Caribbean lol

I feel you but from a different perspective - I was born in Zimbabwe but I’m half Italian, half Irish, so I try find the fun in telling people where I was born because this is where I’m from vs my genetic makeup hahaha… It’s interesting how people will just smile and nod or ask “Wait, how are you white if you come from Africa?”