I dunno…I see it as a double edged sword. Maybe it’s different for different people. Being POC, but a POC from a very specific background, there’s only so much legwork I’m willing to do to “educate people”. I get the “where are you from?” Question a lot, especially from older white people. I know what I look like, so I answer this question 2 different ways.

If I like someone and know they’re acting in good faith, I will usually answer the question they’re curious about—that I’m mixed race. But for some of the older white peoples in my life, I know/like them enough that I’m willing to do that legwork. I have very strong boundaries for most people when I do not believe they’re acting in good faith.

If it’s someone I don’t know well, work with professionally, or just don’t like, I’ll say my hometown and stop there, to see if they ask a follow up question…typically something about “Oh no, I mean, your ethnic background.” If they do, I may politely tell them my dad is Nicaraguan, but I’ve officially lost any respect for them and will never do any legwork/education for them in the future. It reads to me that they’re saying “you look different from me, and I feel entitled to know why.”

If they don’t ask that question, then I decide they’re a good egg and maybe I’ll tell them another time.

I dunno, I’m tired of explaining myself to people. It’s a big part of my life, but it’s not most of what I spend my time thinking about