Watercooler: what are you?
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
Watercooler is the section of the blog where we share with you real-life horror stories from the frontlines of race in the workplace. 
This week, we have a story from Luke Lee:
So far, about 5 co-workers total have asked me in varying ways “what are you?” Almost all of them I answered honestly and I wasn’t that bothered by it because they, most importantly, didn’t ask immediately (you know, they actually waited to get to know me first) and they waited for some natural context of conversation.
I’ve written too many times about this and the “I like [insert race/ethnicity] [gender]” so I’m not going to rehash but today as I’m sitting there at work, one of our “clients” comes up to me and it goes like:
Guy who looked like Howard Stern: Hey, what are you?
Me: What?
Guy: Your race. Are you Filipino? You’re Filipino?
Me: No.
Guy: Japanese?
Me: No.
Guy: Chinese?
Me: No. [Guy is baffled but amused]
Guy: Mexican?
Me: No.
Guy: What?! What else is there?! [Guy is still baffled but not offended that I just won’t flat out tell him]
Me: (Shrug)
Guy: Russian? Are you Russian?
Me: No. (Asks Guy work-related service question)
Guy: ALEUT! You’re an Aleut!
Me: No.
Guy: Oh cah-maaann!!!! (laughs)
Me: (chuckle)
Please email team@raceintheworkplace.com if you’d like to send in a story, put “watercooler” in the subject line, and let us know what name we should use for you. Pseudonyms and first names are totally fine. You can read more Watercooler stories here.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
adele pham wrote:
so what are you. seriously, I have to know
Posted 06 Apr 2007 at 1:27 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Heh- ever use that line from The Princess Bride?
Inigo Montoya: “I must know.” (who the man in black is)
Man in Black: “Get used to disappointment.”
My own workplace (and elsewhere) rule is, if it comes up in conversation, and it’s like the 5th time we’re talking, you get to ask and I’ll answer. If I don’t know your name without a nametag and you don’t know mine, you better ask Who I am before you ask What I am.
Posted 08 Apr 2007 at 2:24 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
ACK. “Anonymous” was me.
Posted 08 Apr 2007 at 2:25 am ¶
Daniel wrote:
Good post. I am always amazed when people ask me what I am, which happens almost daily. I think this goes back to that “racial scripts” issue which was discussed on an old ATR episode. My favorite response is 99.9% exactly the same as you!
Daniel
Posted 09 Apr 2007 at 2:37 pm ¶
Angel H. wrote:
People ask me that all the damn time! I tell them, “I’m human. Duh!”
Posted 26 Apr 2007 at 12:48 pm ¶