Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear
Sorry, I thought you were talking about the USA:

[melirae]

[johnslat]

Dear melarie,
Sorry to get hung up on this, but (and you KNEW there was a "but" coming, didn't you?), how, I wonder, would one go about proving one was "legally white"?The "legally" seems to imply that there's some kind of "standard". In fact, the whole phase brings back memories of Hitler's "racial purity" laws:

http://college.hmco.com/history/world/resources/shared/primary/source/nurembergdoc.htm

Regards,
Honky John

[shmooj]

Thanks for trying to help out with an explanation melirae and especially for being thoughtful enough to realise that it was because I didn't understand US culture. In actual fact, when I saw the phrase "legally white" my mind jumped to apartheid-controlled S. Africa where everyone was classified according to colour.

I had no idea that colour could form any kind of legal classification in "the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave (until he lost it to various "white" immigrants)" In fact, because to ask for these kinds of details in job applications are usually to invite rather volatile reactions from Americans I've dealt with in the past, I'm all the more surprised.

Finally, to say you "look Hispanic/Arabic/Asian/White" but are actually "white" just cracked me up. This could only happen in the US. Where else does everyone clamour to be a part of every ethnic group they can lay claim to?

[melirae]

You are a "but" johnslat! heehee!

But, since we are trying to promote some cross-cultural understanding on here....

Some Americans are sensitive to it because oddly enough it is a very taboo thing here- I think it would be great if everyone was just an American**- no modifiers telling where your parents or grandparents came from. It's not really a legal classification, but at the same time it is because the pupose of it is to ensure equality. It's hard to explain and even a lot of Americans don't really understand it. Like johnslat who compared the purpose to Hitler's quest for racial purity...

Certain ethnic groups are eligible for grants and scholarships that are not available to white Americans. Guess it's the government's way of saying sorry for devastating their ancestors and taking all their land. They have to prove it if they want to claim it though- for example Am. Indian/Alaska Native people have to have proof that they are a certain percentage (like 32% I think) in order to be considered part of that minority group.

Choosing between Hispanic or Asian and White is a personal choice. If someone is 2nd or 3rd generation, they may go with their strong heritage or they may choose white as a way to try to assimilate more. I know that sounds horrible, but being a white American means you don't have to deal with certain things like discrimination. In a way it is similar to S. Africa, we have just manged to get some laws prohibiting segregation in the last 50 years.

White in the US means your family has been here so long, you have no idea what's in your background. White is just a nice way of saying mutt! I'm a mutt- so much so that I can't even lay claim to any other ethnic groups. I know I have some American Indian in my background, but I sure did blend in really well in Sweden!

**I only mean people in America- not the whole world!!!

[khmerhit]

melirae explained

[chi-chi]

Moderator I cannot remove my double post... sorry!

[chi-chi]

Thank you Melirae for explaining this! I did not have the time to explain it myself because I cannot get on the computer much. Melirae is from where I am from, so she/he gives this a very good breakdown.
Some people do not choose white (although some do). Some people have this chosen by their families.
Can anyone help me with my OQ? (original question)? I may not have to go back to the US, but am getting rather close to having that be my only option.
My situation may seem far out, but I cannot find legal work. If anyone does not believe me, PM me and I can send you email after email from jobs that claim that they cannot sponsor visas, but are offering employment anyway, some actually being rather pushy about wanting me to work although they have no plans to even think about doing a visa, ever. These jobs have told me everything from `You can just get an extension (done that already, cannot get another one!) to `You can just fly out (on whose dime?) to `We believe it is perfectly ok to work without a working visa I notice Glenski is silent on this thread...where is good advice when you need it?
Also if anyone happens to know of a place where I could file a complaint, simply to make things easier for the next person who is in my situation?
I really have some enemies that I would not wish this on. I just want to keep other people from having to deal with the same thing over here.
Chi-Chi

[chi-chi]