and saw for the first time a questionaire where we were supposed to check those boxes. I remember being angry about those. I also didn't know that I was a caucasian. In my mind I associated with caucasians people from the Caucasus in Southern Russia or so. As I didn't know exactly where the Caucasus was geographically located, I associated them with looking like the Mongols. Sorry for not having learned enough of the Sowjet Union's different regions.... So, I definitly don't look like a Mongolian woman, but ok if Americans say so, who would object their wisdom ?

You know, you don't have to always fill out the boxes. If my son is asked what he is, he either says American (today as an adult, but couldn't as a young man) or when he is in a good mood, he says exactly what he is and then people usually say "interesting" followed by a long uncomfortable silent moment, that most often is escaped from with a joke and that's the end of it. Unless some idiots really get vulgar. But that's another story.

The worst thing the Americans could ever have started is counting and categorizing their population by race or ethnicity. I thought they might have had learned that from their knowledge of the Nazi German ID cards etc. But they didn't. Contrary they think nowadays Germans are still ... you know ... those authoritarian types, because we have ID cards and must register our home addresses. I think these days they might still have a photo on it, but no categorizations.

I went through the 50 questions/experiences in the link you posted. There are more I could add, but what for. It gets "more fun" when you look at it from a German perspective/ie having "German blood" and then some "black blood" and then having it while living in the US.

I mean it's clear that "those kids can't come out right with that kind of parents"... a whispered remark I heard from many German kinder garden and elementary school teachers behind their hand covered mouths. I think, later on, I was lucky that my English wasn't good enough at that time to know what some American teachers might have whispered. You just try to ignore it.

I always found the French much less racial - as long as you really adored their language and could speak it - which of course no real non-French person can properly - but they are way too polite to let you know that about your French skills, at least back in the days. I heard all of it has changed in the last twenty to thirty years or so.

I think I still can't get any "fun" out of it though. Meanwhile I have heard it all including what my former husband was called by his own folks. Let's say this. It's no fun. And you never forget what has been said. It sticks. And sometimes you don't want to be reminded. Which you are often. Like right now. With this essay. But I commend you for writing about it. It usually never gets talked about. Until the last eight years, more or less. Now they talk about it, may be too much, because it's getting worse with regards to living in a racially challenged political time period. Because you can't say something without making some people feel uncomfortable no matter who you are.

I hope I have not offended anybody with this comment.

are getting the raw deals need to think and act along class lines.
As you say, the issues of race, religion, national origin, are a way to confuse the issue and keep the class aspects of the struggle buried.

Clinton say income inequality is a lesser issue than racial inequality or gender inequality. I disagree and the facts of neoliberalism's negative impact on wage earners are clear and well understood, even if underreported.