I’ve heard this too, in the Midwest, in a rural area with few black people. It was from a person whom I otherwise had considered to be educated and moderate, if not liberal. There was some item in the news regarding black people and racism and this person said, “If they don’t like it, they should just go back.”
I was stunned and flabbergasted. I said something to the effect of “back where?” and that most black Americans had roots as deep if not deeper in this country than white Americans.
I was also stunned that she would say it to me, knowing that my parents are immigrants. I thought, wow, if I ever am in a position in which I have to assert my rights, will I be told just to “go back” if I don’t like it?
I’ve thought a lot about it since then. I’ve concluded that many (most?) white Americans hold an unconsidered assumption that they are “real” Americans, default Americans, and that those of who aren’t white are Americans only by leave or contingency.
White culture, white tastes, white choices, white habits – they’re automatically American. Whereas, the rest of ours are American only to the extent that they conform.
Well, I reject that. I’m American by birth. Everything about me is American – my name is American, the languages I speak are American, my interests, my tastes, my choices, my likes, my dislikes. They’re American, 100 percent American. Period. Not “also” American. And not less American than any one else’s, even if I am the sole American in 315 million who ascribes to any of them.
American culture is not by default Anglo culture, or European culture, or white culture. American is any characteristic that any American has.
I can prove if I have to that all my ancestors (all two of them) who came to this country came here lawfully and have been law-abiding and productive citizens here. How many white Americans can say that with assurance?
So fuck people who think they can tell other people to “go back” based on their skin color or language or accent or religion or how long it has been since they or their ancestors arrived here from someone else. Fuck them twice with a rusty pole, as a friend of mine used to say.
“Where are you from” is a common question I get when I meet someone. “What kind of name is that?” Sometimes I can just put it down to benign interest. After the 700th time, though, sometimes I want to say “I’m from here. Where the fuck are you from?”
It’s hateful, demeaning, and racist for any person on this soil to suggest to another person on this soil that he or she should “go back.” Period. There is no context that can mitigate this or make it okay or cute or jocular or understandable. It’s simply unacceptable.
My family we call our aunts and uncles Tia and Tio.