Defaulted by the people...WHITE

Turning White...


Am I turning white? or what white america sees as white...
This was never a question while living in Boston, of course I was always the person of color latino or OTHER if you will... however in my transition to NYC not even a year ago now...I have been "mistaken" (because it is most definitely a mistake) and asked if I am white... What a disgusting thing to say to me...someone who is damn proud of who they are and where they come from...In one incident at a training, in an intimate cicle of about twenty people I see two other brown people whispering...to find out they were guessing what I was...Italian or Russian... both of which were random to me and plain out of the question...Some Italians say they can pass as Latinos...and some say they are Latino by injection but to strip me of my identity with their eyes made me feel like I was visually being violated and dismissed. I very diplomatically (which does not happen often) addressed their concern about my identity in spanish, letting them know that I too was part of the brown population.
In my dominican neighborhood I am seen as Puerto Rican, because DR and PR are the only countries (or non-independent nation) outside of the United States...
This also has its interesting effect on relationships. If I were seen with a dark skinned black man...or Latino man... I would be seen as the white counterpart...however if there is a so called "all american" or "boy next door" next to me... I would automatically be converted into this brown folk who provides the white man with UNCUT action in return for (white) security and stability. I know that race is a social construct and that it is peoples perception, but what do I do or have done to have that misconception of being white? I know and love being privileged (with limits obviosuly)..who wouldnt (If you say no you are lying). Real "white" people dont even acknowledge their privilege because its just granted to them with their birth certificate...

thoughts? from all colors...and shades...are appreciated~!