LogFAQs > #879816114

I'm Hispanic but rarely admit it - there's Mexican, Spanish, and Italian blood in me. Aside from the color of my skin and the fact that I do have Mexican blood in me, I'm basically a white guy in terms of a lot of things.

I don't speak or understand Spanish beyond saying "no hablo Espanol" ("I do not speak Spanish"), I dislike most of the "authentic" food, I don't participate in any cultural activities (and can't stand when they're forced upon me, especially when someone says I should be into it because of my ethnicity), and I don't even really like tacos or burritos. I prefer burgers, hot dogs, and pizza. And if you're wondering, I am against illegal immigration (but I did not vote for Trump, I voted for Johnson). My parents and I were born in the LA area and I have no family in Mexico. My US passport says my nationality is "American" and not anything else.

Now my question is: Am I "appropriating" "white culture" due to not fitting stereotypes? Should I eat more burritos instead of burgers? Stop speaking English and learn and speak Spanish (and the Mexican dialect at that) instead? Join a mariachi band and wear a sombrero?

Or wait, if I do those things, am I "appropriating" Mexican culture because I'm American? Also, if I were to go to Mexico, guess what, they would see me as an American and reject me culturally. It's happened to "Americanized" people that try to get back into "their culture."

What's my point? This "cultural appropriation" nonsense seems more like a way to enforce certain stereotypes more than anything and prevent people from engaging in cultures different than their own. If we're really going to make race and ethnicity irrelevant, we need to let people enjoy whatever culture they want as long as it is given respect, regardless of their genetics. I fail to see how white women having a Mexican restaurant is a bad thing at all, and it's not like they opened it in Mexico - it's in Portland, closer to Canada than Mexico. I say we let them have their business, they did nothing to disrespect Mexican culture. They are respecting it, wanting to bring a taste that they enjoyed to Portland. The fact that they happened to be born white should be irrelevant.
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<D