Italian

I am rather Italian. In fact, it's all I've got.

I look southern Italian. Now, here's my predicament:

I'm not sure whether I'm white or not.

It's an interesting predicament, and some of you may say I'm mentally disabled for thinking this - but I'm not, really - because I've gotten a lot of mixed reviews. Some people think I'm white and some do not. Some sound bytes over the years:

"Yeah, this bracelet may be gaudy. I shouldn't ask anyone Italian, or Black, or Argentinian. I should just ask a straight-up white person."

"She's not white, she's Italian."

"Oh you're Italian? y'all are like N***ers in Europe! That's why the rest of Europe treat you the way they do."

and so on and so forth. Yet, whenever I'm faced with those boxes...like the ones on the SATs? I have to check the "Caucasian" box. Because I came from Europe...and I'm not hispanic...

Are you starting to see ...where I'm coming from?

I love the race discussions. My friend J sits in front of me, she's black. My friend E sits next to me, she's clearly white- fair, blonde. They're discussing their experiences and what it means to be their invividual selves, and I'm sitting in the middle, a giant question mark, a shrug.

I don't really have an opinion about this one way or the other - I just find it fascinating.

Just something to clear up about Italians, that I know for a fact...the Jersey Shore is not a good representation. Please God, don't refer to me as any of those girls on that show. Please pretty please. Those girls are fine, I have no ill will toward them - but they're uneducated. Extremely uneducated. Another misconception: We do not need to wear Bedazzled shirts. If you see me walking around, chances are, 9 times out of ten, I will not be wearing a bedazzled shirt! My shirt will not have any kind of rhinestone on it anywhere.

I love the derogatory terms toward Italians. My favorite? Garlic Eaters.

A. Who in their right mind doesn't eat garlic? it's delicious.

B. Ooooh, you called me a what? Garlic Eater? wow. that hurts. He actually insinuated that I eat Garlic. The nerve. No pizza for you.
:)