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Cumol  ·  3395 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Ask Hubski: Are you comfortable in your own skin?

Taking this quite literally, I would say that I am not sure.

When you see me, "arab" is the last thing that might cross your mind. I am white and have curly dirty blond hair. I haven't met anybody who was able to guess my nationality without me telling my whole name, followed by a history class about the israeli/palestinian conflict.

In europe, being white has its uses. I never have problems getting into clubs. People don't hesitate to talk to me. I don't get weird looks... I get treated like a white dude. But here is the actual problem. I know that this difference exists. I see how other arabs get treated daily. I see for myself that racism still exists.

Sometimes, I wish I had a darker skin tone. Maybe I wouldn't have to explain to everyone that I was born and raised in an arabic city in Israel to an arabic father and a polish mother. People would just assume it. Maybe I would meet other people? Maybe I wouldn't have been robbed by that drug dealer in Montpellier? Maybe I would attract different girls?

But the main reason I wish for a darker skin tone is the ability to fight back. I rarely have the chance to witness a friend being treated badly because of his skin color. But what I noticed from their stories is that they usually stay still, duck their heads and move on. I will not do that. I would tell them about human dignity, about equality, about about... everything! Except, this never happens to me, because I am white.

Instead, all I keep hearing is: "You are not a typical arab", "you are different than them".

I am not, I am an arab, I just didn't get the same color :(