What Kind of Asian Are You?

I remember one time passing through the security line for a flight out of Seattle, when a TSA agent asked me where I'm from. I can understand why - I'd make the rather obvious mistake of flying while brown. Whoops.

So I turned to him and said "Are you asking where I'm living now? Where in the US I was born and grew up? Or where my parents are from? I'm appreciate some clarification - your question is rather ambiguous."

At which point he got a rather unhappy look on his face, pointed me down the line, and grumbled "Go on."

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Most of the time, though, I realize this isn't coming from a bad place. Someone's either genuinely interested, or trying to make small talk. I don't take any offense, and just tell them "My parent's are from [insert-country-here].". It gives them the information they're looking for, while gently telling them I'm an American without making them feel bad for asking.

Meh. There's no shortage of racism coming from minorities; whether it's soft or hard. It just happens we currently allow, excuse and possibly encourage such action.

And to Clippy: The TSA is an abomination.

It took me a long time to get used to that "cultural feature" of the white American populace, but in the beginning it was very off-putting. I still find it quite lacking in good taste when strangers start talking to me in Spanish, simply because I have dark hair and slightly olive skin. I am, actually eastern European with Asian blood.
The worst was, when at the Airport some African American woman demanded (not asked) that I provide more toilet paper in the restroom. I pointed out my suitcase, and tried as nicely as I could to tell her that I am a traveler just like her, and there is toilet paper in another bathroom stall.
And yes, TSA is an abomination.

Check out this conversation about how a Canadian of Indian heritage who lives in Saudi Arabia somehow became Pakistani.