Passing

Well here I was just having a normal Argentinian afternoon, drinking mate and watching soccer, when all of a sudden here come three visitors from North Carolina!  This was significant for two reasons.  1 - North Carolina, what are the odds???  And 2 - This means I can no longer count the number of Americans that have stayed here this year on one hand (total now = 8). 

Moving on, my topic for today is Passing.  I remember reading a book for a history course I took about a young woman in the 1930's or 40's.  She was half black, but had very light skin, and could pass for a tan white person, which had significant social advantages in this era.  I think passing is an interesting concept, and one that I have tried to participate in at various times.  Especially after coming back from Mozambique, sometimes I found being a white, English-speaking American to be rather boring and uninteresting and all too normal and average at times.  Even though I do appreciate all the privileges that I have because of that, for some inexplicable reason I have always been fascinated by other cultures and languages.  I remember when I was little - in elementary school - and we would go to the library my Mom used to make us get some non-fiction books.  My go-to topics were books about other countries or about football - two interests that have stayed with me throughout the years!

When I came back from Moz I joined a Portuguese language group, and ended up meeting a bunch of really cool Brazilians.  Whenever we would go out and speak Portuguese I liked that other people would assume I was foreign.  I dyed my hair darker to boost my Brazilian-ness.  I remember one time we went out in Raleigh and I ran into a Brazilian guy I knew.  He yelled something to me about a Brazilian get-together, and another guy in the bar overheard him and later came over and was like, "So you're Brazilian..."  I figured I'd never see him again so I didn't bother to correct him. 

Partially related, I recently read an article by a middle-eastern woman called, "Why I hate white belly dancers."  You can probably guess what it was about.  Despite the aggressive tone, it did make some interesting points about how white people can embrace and participate in aspects of other cultures that they find exotic or desirable, but can then go back to being white and not face the discrimination or challenges that people from these cultures face on a daily basis.  It made me think about how I like to pass for a Brazilian.  When it suits me I can speak other languages, learn capoeira, and be perceived as exotic and interesting.  But, when it's more convenient, I can be a native English speaker whose legality in the US isn't questioned, and whose motives for dating aren't presumed to be related to getting a green card.

So what's the appropriate balance between experiencing other cultures but not taking advantage of them?  And if you find yourself in a situation of privilege, is it wrong to take advantage of that?  I think it all comes down to respect.  As long as you are respectfully participating in another culture you can't be faulted for wanting new experiences, learning new skills, or making new friends.  It's unfortunate that not everyone has the same opportunities, and I think it's important to be aware of the privileges that we each have and why not everyone has them.  But ultimately as long as you use your privileges responsibly, and do no harm to others in the process, you should take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.