# Dopers “of color”: Would you be white? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951 "2006-02-24T18:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/21 "2006-02-25T12:35:49Z")
Before I came to London, I always thought that “whiteys” were great. They had lots of fun stuff, they got all the best jobs, their english sounds much better than mine… But then I came to London, and I realise, I’d never fit in. I wanna go home. If I had been born white? Maybe… but then, I’m happy as I am now. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/22 "2006-02-25T15:56:04Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > **Anaamika** :If you’re speaking about people you know it’s probably unwise to use markers like “90% of Indian kids.” It only means the rest of the board uses you as a citation to say something generalised and stupid about Indian culture because of your personal experience. I have no dog in this fight, but feel compelled to point out that she said > [@Aanamika](#): > > 90 % of the Indian kids **I grew up with** (bolding mine). ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/23 "2006-02-25T17:39:27Z")
I love my beautiful African American self at 48 - I wouldn’t change a thing. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/24 "2006-02-25T18:34:26Z")
Well i always wanted to be a little darker but that’s cos i’m _uber-white_ and i sunblister in moderately warm Scottish summers. ☹ That would pretty much be the only way i would want to change who i am, i think. I would hazard that most people would feel the same no matter who they are - they might want some of the ‘best bits’ that another ethnicity has but basically want to be the same. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/25 "2006-02-25T18:48:22Z")
I would. What’s more, I bet there are plenty of others out there who would, but are keeping their mouths shut. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/26 "2006-02-25T18:48:32Z")
Growing up in central CA, I wasn’t a minority----most kids I went to school with were Mexican-Americans who’d never lived in Mexico, or Phillipinos of the 2nd or 3rd generation. Blues eyes still catch my attention but I did not admire the white kids’ pink skin. There wasn’t a kid in town I wanted to trade places with, not white, black or any other color. Would I be white now? No. I like my dark-eyed look. I’ve worked on this for years! It works for me. My exact same life, but I’m white? Me, just paler? No, thanks. I married a whiter than white guy just because I loved him. My daughter and son are gorgeous creatures. As far as I know, at 19 and 15, they have never tried to pass. I have never heard them express a wish to be white. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/27 "2006-02-25T19:06:38Z")
No. I am who I am. I am what I am. Sure, there are times and circumstances when it was inopportune to be who I am, but I still would be who I am. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/28 "2006-02-25T20:23:38Z")
Bwah ha ha ha ha ha HAH! N-next question. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/29 "2006-02-25T23:12:12Z")
I’m white, and I wouldn’t change who I am. We’re all beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/30 "2006-02-25T23:40:03Z")
some hours and a couple of beers later one has to wonder at the significance of the question. I wonder how many of our White brethen would choose to be other than that. The miltant in me wonders if White is the epitome of being and whether those of us who are not White are considered as truly lesser beings for not wanting to be the ultimate of what it means to be human. My apologies, if I have offended. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/31 "2006-02-25T23:46:27Z")
I’m mexican/black. Would I be white? Yes, yes I would. I’d have no reason not to be. I do not have any ties to my “culture.” To me, black culture means nothing. I’ve never been “black” enough to my peers, and in all honesty, I don’t want to. And besides, I hate my hair. I have a very pretty skin color though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/32 "2006-02-26T00:38:19Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’m mexican/black. > > Would I be white? > > Yes, yes I would. I’d have no reason not to be. I do not have any ties to my “culture.” To me, black culture means nothing. I’ve never been “black” enough to my peers, and in all honesty, I don’t want to. > > And besides, I hate my hair. I have a very pretty skin color though. I was going to predict you were military but then saw your location. I was brought up in a predominately white neighborhood that had a lot of military people in it so most of the black kids were military. Because of this there wasn’t a cultural divide in school. I’m not sure why but black kids from military families did not invest in the cultural aspects of hyphenated Americanism. I’ve always felt, from a very young age, that these kids were raised with one less bag to carry in life. They were free to do what they wanted instead of what was expected of them. I’ll trade you hair. Mine’s half curly and half shemp. Can’t do a thing with it and I’m a guy. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/33 "2006-02-26T00:57:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I was brought up in a predominately white neighborhood that had a lot of military people in it so most of the black kids were military. Because of this there wasn’t a cultural divide in school. I’m not sure why but black kids from military families did not invest in the cultural aspects of hyphenated Americanism. I’ve always felt, from a very young age, that these kids were raised with one less bag to carry in life. They were free to do what they wanted instead of what was expected of them. 😕 Geez, you make it sound like being a part of a subculture is such a horrible, horrible thing. I know it’s hard to believe, but a lot of people actually appreciate having traditions and customs that are distinct from the mainstream, and this appreciation doesn’t develop solely from other people’s expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/34 "2006-02-26T02:02:54Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > 😕 > > Geez, you make it sound like being a part of a subculture is such a horrible, horrible thing. I know it’s hard to believe, but a lot of people actually appreciate having traditions and customs that are distinct from the mainstream, and this appreciation doesn’t develop solely from other people’s expectations. Not horrible by any stretch but somewhat limiting. I don’t doubt your appreciation for tradition or customs. As an individual, I’m a subculture of one. No expectations are made of me nor am I in a position to impose any. No one has ever accused me of not measuring up to an image because there is no unit to measure me by. It’s a philosophical view on social interaction. Melting pot vs cultural diversity. I want to go to the party with the biggest keg. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/35 "2006-02-26T03:03:30Z")
Of course not. Being Asian, I was born knowing martial arts. 😉 (Wouldn’t mind being a bit taller, though…) ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/36 "2006-02-26T04:48:57Z")
Nah, not really. We have better food anyways. Besides, I got that Waify Asian Boy metabolism; I get to enjoy it guilt-free. I’m told (and am willing to believe) that Chinese guys are at a disadvantage in the dating pool, but I look at that, and then I look the way my white friends cook their vegetables, and I figure it’s about a fair trade. ---
**Author:** ![QuarkChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c5a1d2/32.png) [@QuarkChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuarkChild)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/37 "2006-02-26T04:50:08Z")
I’m white but I think that if I could magically give myself brown skin, then I would. I worry a lot about sunburns and skin cancer. Also, aesthetically I prefer darker skin tone. I can’t really say whether I’d prefer to have been born a non-White person because I’ve never experienced it. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/38 "2006-02-26T16:49:29Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I would. What’s more, I bet there are plenty of others out there who would, but are keeping their mouths shut. You’re Black? Really? : Puts Johnny on _the list_. : My thoughts and experiences are pretty much like **monstro** ’s. I love my color and my background, but there are those times when I just don’t feel like being tailed at the department store while trying to buy some damn pants (to be fair, that rarely happens, but it does on occassion). ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/39 "2006-02-27T03:28:23Z")
Heh no. I’m asian for reference. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951/40 "2006-02-27T05:24:11Z")
Yes. I moved to Australia when I was 5. I grew up in a white, with white friends, in a white culture thinking white thoughts. As far as I’m concerned, I’m white inside. Skin colour isn’t a big part of my identity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-of-color-would-you-be-white/345951.md?page=3)