Weird/incorrect race assumptions you've made?

[Howallergic]

My first was Tracy Chapman. I presumed, despite the first name Tracy, that she was a white male. I was shocked to see from a picture that she was not only female, but that she was also black.
My Mum's ex partner presumed that Millie who sang My Boy Lollipop was white and was disappointed (80's) to discover that they were all black. From how he described it to me, it was almost as if he had fancied a girl who turned out to be trans - he felt ashamed.
Latest I can think of is an Irish singer called Hozier who my father assumed was a black man. He's a white Irish singer.
My most recent one was this very posh lady I had to deal with at work, and I presumed she was white, don't know why, but that bias was there. When a black girl turned up in jeans and a hoodie to meet me, I was a little shocked.

This is not a race row argument thread. I'm just wondering whether you've ever made incorrect assumptions based on accents or whatever. Jesus I hope it doesn't get me deleted. I started this with the intention of showing just how stupid our assumptions can be, not the opposite.

Anyway, I'll leave it to you.

I grew up in a mostly white town with a small Asian population. Very few black families. There was two American air bases near by and many of the Americans lived off base in the town. My neighbours were one of these families. They were white. When they moved on a black family moved in. Quite a few people assumed they were Americans from the air base. They weren't. They had actually lived in the town for years.

I assumed that the singer Bobby Caldwell (“What You Won't Do for Love"), was black.

I thought Amy Winehouse was black from her voice and music.
I also thought the girl who sang All About the bass was black too from the way she sounds...

@AriadneCrete This!! By “posh” in my case the connotation here is that I don’t sound “black” or use “innit” etc

@Karwomannghia you have taken my comment in the wrong way. Never mind

I'm white, blonde, blue eyed and freckled. With a Middle Eastern surname.
I quite often have people double checking that it's definitely me when I stand up after my name is announced. There was a lady in a head scarf in a waiting room with me once and they were blatantly looking at her as they called my name.

I come from a Muslim family. None of yet women wear a hijab. Not all Muslims do.

*the

Can’t you wear it for your male friends who come over too?

I'm a Christian (lapsed) i don't have invite any male friends over to my house and I certainly wouldn't specifically put make up on for any men coming round.
Don't try to pick holes in others posters and their beliefs, it's not nice.

@Tippexy is that a joke

@WaltzingBetty thanks for the clarification. Really good of you to help others understand when they are small minded. And take something out of context. Hope you're well and having a nice day

@Karwomannghia my husband doesn't tell me what I can and cannot wear, who I can and cannot see what I can and cannot do. That is not what i was saying. I was saying when i was a new muslim and new to the wonderful religion of peace, i assumed women dont wear makeup in public. Which they shouldn't however some door andbthats their choice. My husband didnt give me the permission to wear for him only. He simply laughed when I said I cant wear it anymore. Shall u just chuck it out. He said no, you can still wear etc etc. Infact he prefers me without makeup. Not all non muslim women wear makeup either. And am pretty sure a lot of non muslim women who aren't even muslim, doll themselves up and enjoy dressing up for their man and female companions. Whats wrong with that.
In Islam your beauty is your husband only. The only men allowed to see you without hijab would be my dad, my husband, my husbands dad, my brothers, my uncles, kids, all women. That's just the way it is. There is no forcing of the hijab. That's just really stupid. The bible also says to cover your hair and if you reveal your hair, it should be shaved. The quran doesnt say that. It says cover yourself. There is no punishment but just the guidance of to wear it. There are lots of Muslim women who do wear it, whether headscarf or hijab or niqab or dont even bother. That's their choice too. Just like nuns they wear it, orthodox greek Christians wear it, even Jewish women cover their hair. It's just the way things are. And am happy and love my hijab. Thats all that matters. Have a good day

My first name sounds a lot like a fairly common male Spanish name (although spelled differently, and last name is clearly not Spanish). When in a client call with someone from Spain, or even Italy, I would sometimes be greeted by something along the lines of: "Oh, you're not a man!" They had just seen my name in the email/ meeting invite and didn't expect a female voice with a germanic accent.

Hi @WhyIsItSoHardToPickAUsername hope you're well. Peace and love to a christian sister.

Yes, that's correct. Am sure you respect the brothers of the church. You wouldn't exactly glam up for them .

@WhyIsItSoHardToPickAUsername am sure people assume you're a revert to Islam as well hahaha with a middle eastern name. Nice though. All my children have those kinds of names.

@DoubleHelix79 wow it's so interesting to learn all the names and meanings and nationalities. It shows just how unique and different we all are.

@Karwomannghia sorry to hear you're ex religious. That's a shame. In islam there is no racism everyone is one.

The late, great Tony Cozier.

His voice and face dont match each other. I was gobsmacked to see his face on TV after years of hearing him on the radio.

@CovidStoleTheRainbow

Where I grew up, it was really diverse, black, white, Chinese, Gurkhas, polish - so much diversity! But nonetheless when I was about 8 years old I remember a black guy talking in a strong Scottish accent and it totally threw me. I'd never in my life, and haven't since, met a Scottish person who wasn't white. I guess I haven't met many Scottish people? 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

Scotland isn't very ethnically diverse so even if you had met lots of us you might still have only met white (or pale blue) people...

@Giningit . You know what your comment made me think of a black woman making a speech about something or the other a couple of years back. And people say why is she trying to sound 'white'

@Giningit I thought that was so ridiculous.

I've had this before. I used to have to regularly phone IT support for a previous job, the man I always had to speak to had the sexiest voice ever with a slight hint of Italian in there, so in my head I'm think Antonio banderas, Enrique englaisias etc. Well I told the girls in the office this and they laughed didnt get why when this very short, pale 50+ man walked in so so far from the dreamy Mediterranean I was seeing in my head 🙈🙈
I also cause a lot if confusion as I have lived around the world think usa, canada, Dubai, various European countries, south coast, london etc etc so when people speak to me on the phone I have a whole host if accents that come out. My husband says I have a Heinz 47 accent 🤣🤣🤣 very few people have not been shocked when they meet me after speaking on tue phone 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Not race related, but I thought Tracy Chapman was a man when I first heard her sing. I was surprised when I actually saw what she looked like. Likewise, I thought Michael Jackson was a woman!

Didn't people used to think Taylor Dayne was black?

I’m Asian but people often assume I’m white, I only knoe this due to reactions when new clients etc meet me. I often get things like “oh I wasn’t expecting one of you” or it takes several goes at me introducing myself as they ignore me or I get “are you sure?” when I explain who I am. @SimonJT

I know the thread is lighthearted but this is racism ('one of you') and should be called out. All too often threads like these don't acknowledge the racism.

@Fifthtimelucky

I used to make far more assumptions when I first started work (I'm now retired).

I was brought up in the very white West Country. The first people from ethnic minorities that I came across (at university) were either overseas students who had accents that were typical for people from their ethnic heritage, or 'RP' accents. I remember being very surprised when I first discovered some with regional English accents.

At work I once had to phone someone with a typically Indian name. It sounds ridiculous know but I was amazed that she had a strong Lancashire accent. My father had the same accent and it seemed very incongruous.

At one point I worked with a man called Colin with a London accent. A colleague spoke to him regularly by phone but had never met him and was very surprised to find that he was black. I'm not sure whether that was because of his voice or because of his name, because he was also surprised to find that he was much younger than the typical Colin.

Finally, when I was in my twenties I had many dealings by phone with a French colleague. He had an incredibly sexy voice. Alas, when I met him he turned out to be middle aged, balding and overweight.

As football fans might have noticed, I'm named after Phil Jagielka (former Everton player, who's white). One of the doctors I worked for in my last job sounded EXACTLY like him, but was a middle-aged Asian guy. Sadly he was not as hot as Jags.

I used to work remotely as a legal secretary for the firm's head office in London and I'd never met any of the people I'd typed for, so when I finally got to meet them at an office party, it was so much fun having faces to put the voices to!

@PopsicleHustler

On the other hand, I have had people make weird accusations and assumptions at me or ask me hilarious things. But I also answer questions to help people who dont know and I enjoy that.

1, I was forced to islam.
There is no forcing. You have to feel god in your heart otherwise its.not a true declaration of faith.

2, that I have joined the taliban.
So stupid. I hate terrorism and any form of abuse or murder to any animal or human being. Our holy book also teaches us not to harm any living thing and to be peaceful.
3, that my husband forces me to wear hijab.
I wear it because I love it and I cant imagine life without it. Mother Mary wore it and shes a very important person in my faith so why cant I be like her.
4, How can you be a muslim if you're white is the classic one.
Religion is for everyone. You dont have to be a certain ethnicity or nationality to love God.
5, when people are shocked I dont eat pork.
Pork is full of crap. Pigs are known to eat their own and other pigs faeces and even their own young. T. I didnt have eat pork before I was muslim.
I'm not going to die because I dont eat pork and gave up booze.

I've heard of white Muslim hijabi women having 'Paki' shouted at them. Even though they're not Asian. It's like some people think wearing a headscarf changes your skin colour.

Also, Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo have white Muslims! Everton have a white Muslim player on the squad, Mo Besic. He's Bosnian. Edin Dzeko is another famous one.

@PopsicleHustler I think people are generally just confused when they meet me