Because I’m Asian and I can remember like at least 10 instances where people in the US (Including Both White and Black people) would assume I don’t speak English before I had a chance to talk. I’ve lived in this country since 8, I speak on a native level. I wonder if there is just a subconcious “perpetual foreigner” stereotype engrained into people.
Because I sometimes feel uncomfortable. Like it just feels very awkward after I get asked that, then I speak English perfectly lol.
Maybe it’s just from living in the Midwest, but that seems strange to me. I’ve certainly met plenty of people that don’t speak English natively, but I wouldn’t assume that by looks. Where did you have people making that assumption? It might be more of a rural thing?
Tbh I can’t quite remember the specific locations. But it’s almost always adults making the assumption when I was a kid/teen/young-adult, my peers never made that assumption.
Like… once a teacher made the assumption. I guess perhaps I was doing introvert things so he made the assumption?