I’m starting this month with a Mixed-Month-May post! Many (girls and women) have often asked if it would be possible for a prince or king to marry someone of ‘visible minority’. Of course, it always depends on the royal member but … Continue reading
On Wednesday, I attended the advanced screening of Amma Asante‘s Belle at the Fifth Avenue Cinemas. The film commenced around 7 and ended around 8:40PM (105 min. long). I had been looking forward to seeing this movie ever since I … Continue reading
You may have already seen the trailer back in October 2013 and have tried to find out more information on the little-known mixed-race aristocrat named Dido Elizabeth Belle. Perhaps like many mixed-race people, I found the announcement of this upcoming … Continue reading
Some of you may have seen this painting before of a dark-skinned young woman wearing a turban with a fair-skinned brunette in a garden. Both seem to be very cheery and close. You may have wondered why they were together … Continue reading
Continuing on with my last post, the following is my personal thoughts and do not represent what other people of my background or those who share similar experiences think.
First of all, I’m a mixed kid with tanned skin, Asian eyes but multi-brown (many shades) hair. Some know I’m mixed, others see an Asian girl.
I have German heritage but none of my recent ancestors are from Bavaria. I lived in Munich last year and I’ve always loved dresses, so of course, I bought a dirndl.
Although I’m part Chinese, I’ve never had my own Qipao. I think it’s gorgeous and I’d love to have one someday.
First of all, it’s the Bavarians and the Austrians who call the dirndls and lederhosen their ‘national costume’. Germany is often incorrectly portrayed as a large sausage-eating blond(e) wearing a dirndl or lederhosen.
During Oktoberfest, everyone wears the traditional costume. In Munich, even when it wasn’t Oktoberfest, some people still wear the traditional costume and it’s not considered unusual. I’ve seen people of all ethnicities wearing the traditional costume. At this point, it seems to be acceptable. The only costumes I’d consider offensive are the Halloween sexy costumes. Those you do not wear to Oktoberfest. End of story.
I see the Chinese traditional costume (which is pretty modern. I believe it’s from the 1900s?) on non-Chinese/Cantonese, I think it’s just an alternative to a formal dress. Because the Qipao is form-fitting, it shows off the figure perfectly. If I see it worn on Halloween, I assume 1 of 3 things:
1. Person is dressing up as Mulan
2. Person wants an excuse to wear the Qipao
3. Person is representing part of her culture
Growing up as a TCK, I thought traditional costumes are a free for all sort of thing. When I was 9, I was selected, along with a few British girls, to be part of the Diwali dance. We were provided costumes for the event.
While living in Munich, I went to an international church, which was dominantly African. Our German pastor sometimes wore a traditional African dress, which must’ve been given to her by the attendees or while she visited somewhere in Africa. By wearing it, she was not only showing respect but that she was one with them.
This is similar to a pastor at our church in Vancouver who, though Canadian, feels that he is African at heart.
There are so many examples out there. Yet if you can’t relate, well, unfortunately, you will not be able to understand that some people are actually not being offensive and that some are not feeling offended.
The Lady and the Rose 