Have you ever asked the question: "Where are you from?" only to get a blank stare or a sarcastic response? Is a Brown Girl with Malaysian parents that has lived in the U.S. for her entire life from America or from Malaysia? Is an American-born Brown Girl with South African parents living in France from France? Is "Where are you from?" the real question? Or were you simply curious about the person's cultural background?
There's no harm in asking people about themselves if done with genuine kindness, respect and curiosity. Consider asking a person "Where is your accent from?" or "What is your cultural background?" so as not to come across as offensive, insensitive or inappropriate. Who knows? You might end up having a terribly interesting conversation. ;-)
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