Yvan γΌ γ€γγ πΊ
οΈ :ferris: :go:@YvanDaSilva@hachyderm.io
#Microaggressions #racism in #Switzerland and the #world
Why do I have to explain? Ethnicity and identity are not the same thing!
Initially I wanted to put a CW, but no, I want this to be wide and clear. If you think like a person I am about to describe, please unfollow, please stop speaking to me.
---
I'm a bit tired to have to explain that I am Swiss, I was born in Switzerland, I lived all my life here, did all my studies here, I have French as mothertongue and this is who I am.
I've been called today to yet again explain why I say that I am not Portuguese? No I'm not, I don't want to be, there's nothing wrong with being Portuguese, but that's not me.
Your ethnicity doesn't define your identify, those things are unrelated, they can be similar but that's not guarantee. Thinking or assuming the opposite is a form of #racism known as #Microaggressions.
And this form of racism is even worse when it comes from your closed ones.
Your skin color doesn't define your identify, making assumptions about who you are or asking "but where are you really from? " based on your skin colour is called #colourism
The same goes for any other questions like:
- but you parents where xyz
- you can't deny you are xyz
- you can't deny you come from there
- that's your nationality not your origin
- but what really is your origin
- you should be proud of your origin
- why doesn't your kids speak xyz origin language
- you're not a real xyz anyway
- you're not white
These are all #Microaggressions and they make you a #racist.
Ask yourself this: Where was Michael Jackson from? If you see his old white face and think American but you wouldn't do the same for any non white person living in the #USA or for when he was younger, then you have work to do.
I'll leave you with the following. We all live on the same planet, stop assuming colors, race and erthnicity have any correlation to identity. Every individual has an identity that is their own, don't assume anything. And if you ask, accept the answer, don't follow with another judgmental question or affirmation. We all live and die the same, let's start to live and respect each other.
Yes. I'm Swiss.
This reminded me of the following video:
https://youtu.be/-aaJMvyEjTw?si=KidcQ6xYUjOs7d8i
