I am not Filipino.

I'm not.

I mean, I am. But really, I'm not. I don't speak Tagalog. I enjoy the food, but can make nothing but mediocre adobo. I don't know the cultural customs. I have never visited. Hell, I don't even have a particular plan on if or when I am going to visit.

The reality of the situation for myself, and for most people, is that we are American with ethnic ancestry. Most people haven't visited the countries their relatives/ancestors came from. Most people don't speak the language. Most people don't really know the culture of their home countries.

I am not really Filipino, or Polish, or Spanish. I am American. I just happen to be brown.



PS. No, you are not 1/64th Cherokee.