• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tyranny of Pink

Jonelle Unfiltered

  • Home
  • About
    • Subscribe to Tyranny of Pink
    • My Ostomy Journey
    • In the Media / Features
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Posts by Jonelle
    • Life
      • Authentic Living
      • Living with Intention
      • Motherhood
      • Emigrating
      • Mental Well-Being
      • That time I nearly died
      • Self-Confidence
      • Social Issues
    • Death & Grief
    • Travel
      • Destinations
      • Tips / Advice
    • Success & Career
      • Women’s Empowerment
      • Jobs & Career
      • Productivity
      • Interesting Careers
      • Blogging
    • Ostomy Journey
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Reflections on Life / Being Resilient / What race are you? Oh how much I love that question.

What race are you? Oh how much I love that question.

24th April 2019 By Jonelle

I recently went on a training course; it involved meeting a whole bunch of new people. I spent time working CLOSELY with a bunch a strangers – not my favourite way to spend the day.

Anyone at one point, a lady sitting next to me asked me;

“What’s your background?” (translation – what RACE are you?)

I said “I’m South African”

To which she responded; “No but what’s your background?”

I said “Well, I’m South African but I was born in Swaziland. My dad is Swazi and my mom South African”

and then she said…

“No but why do you have such lovely brown skin” – WHAT RACE ARE YO she wanted to say!

AH HA! I knew this is where we were headed from the beginning… and I purposefully avoided it because it’s NOT okay. It’s not okay to covertly ask people their race. And let’s face facts. That is literally what she was asking about me. People do this all the time because my LOVELY brown skin is a weird middle of the road colour that they usually can’t place and I bloody hate it.

Stop putting me into your little boxes!

If you’re wondering how I responded, I said “oh you mean what RACE am I?, well I’m mixed race. My mom is white and my dad is brown” and she got kinda awkward because we all know we shouldn’t ask questions that make us sound racist right?


“Well, what’s your background?” does exactly that.

Don’t be that woman!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ&t=18s

Filed Under: Being Resilient, Blog, Expat Adventures, Life, Reflections on Life, Social Issues Tagged With: dealing with racisim, racism

Previous Post: « Kia kaha New Zealand!
Next Post: 11 Months since emigrating to New Zealand »

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jonelle

I write things, I make art, I like good food, wine, a whisky after a rough day and I’m always up for a new adventure. I believe we can all contribute to a better world and we should do it while living authentically. I answer to “mommy,” live in Wellington New Zealand with my family and work for Local Goverment. Welcome to my blog…

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

What's Popular?

  • Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many | Tyranny of Pink
    Authentic Living, Being You, Blog Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many
  • What it was like having my stoma reversed | Tyranny of Pink
    Being an Ostomate, That time I nearly died What it was like having my stoma reversal
  • 6 Weeks Post Colostomy Reversal Op! I survived! Tyranny of Pink
    Being an Ostomate, That time I nearly died 6 Weeks Post Colostomy Reversal Op! I survived!
  • To the father of my child - Happy Father's Day!
    Being Mom, Blog To the father of my child – Happy Father’s Day!
  • Beat your anxiety and stay productive while working from home | Tyranny of Pink
    Being Successful, Blog, Living with Intention, Mental Well-Being, Productivity Beat your anxiety and stay productive while working from home

Recent Posts

  • No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • The strong confident woman
  • Migration Tales – New Zealand in the times of Covid-19
  • The story of two bloggers who lived happily ever after
  • 3 great TED Talks to watch about race, inequality & being antiracist!

Recent Comments

  • Jonelle on No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • Bonnie on No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • Jonelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Priscah on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Jonelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery

Categories

Archives

The most beautiful girl in the world đź’• The most beautiful girl in the world đź’•
Absolutely thrilled that I get to wear this beauti Absolutely thrilled that I get to wear this beautiful coat this winter again… only good thing about winter is dressing for the cold. #zaracoat #winterdressing
My little corner of happiness #monstera #plantlove My little corner of happiness #monstera #plantlover #greenliving
Something so peaceful about an old cemetery. Could Something so peaceful about an old cemetery. Couldn't visit my dad's grave on his birthday today so spent the afternoon wandering around here. I know people will find this strange but it's my favourite place in this city đź–¤

#karoricemetery #happybirthdaydad
A few graduations over the years. A few graduations over the years.
Instagram post 17914233386370190 Instagram post 17914233386370190
When did you grow up so big? #BabyOden When did you grow up so big? 
#BabyOden
Throw back to a week ago when I drove a giant Poli Throw back to a week ago when I drove a giant Police boat around the Wellington Harbour. Like a boss.

Copyright 2020 Jonelle Unfiltered | Tyranny of Pink