I wish I had a defined race/ethnicity/religion so I could join these clubs

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>This post will be a partial rant about different cultural clubs at my school. My school has a very diverse population. Because of that, there are literally hundreds of clubs dedicated to every cultural identity you could think of.</p>

<p>I grew up in a typical, white, suburban household. My family was definitely not religious but I am very accepting of other people's cultures. Most of my friends are asian or indian.</p>

<p>At my school, as I said, there are tons of cultural clubs. However, I always felt left out because I never identified with a specific culture. I tried going to the Chinese Student Organization but it was a little awkward for me. Everyone kept giving me these weird looks and, to be honest, it did feel strange being the only white kid there.</p>

<p>Sometimes, I am jealous of all my friends having a club made specifically for them. There are tons of religious clubs (jewish, catholic, you name it) and even several cultural-religious clubs (Korean Campus Crusade for Christ, Chinese Christian Fellowship, etc) . And because I never had/don't need religion in my life, I wouldn't want to go to any of them anyway.</p>

<p>I'm not specifically asking for advice, just other people's thoughts on this. Are any of you guys in the same situation as me? Do some of you just not care about cultural clubs? What do you think of them in general?</p>

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<p>i personally don't care about cultural clubs, but if you do, don't let those chinese kids make you too uncomfortable to go to their club...hey, I sure wouldn't turn down chinese food because some kids were giving me weird looks. </p>

<p>As for feeling left out, sorry, but like 60% of this country is White middle-class suburban, look around and realize you're surrounded by your own kind. Start your own white middle class average Joe club! :) just kidding...you don't have to join a cultural club, why not join a sports team, or community service club, or anything really? sorry that you feel uncomfortable.</p>

<p>i'm paki and i went to the south asian students association once...great food. I noticed non brown people there as well, presumably there for free indian food.</p>

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<p>One of the heads of our Chinese Students association is a white female, and one of the heads of the Korean student's association is a white dude.</p>

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<p>I heard about a girl who started a "Caucasian Heritage" club or something of that nature at her school, and there was a lot of backlash. Look, if there can be clubs for Asian students or for black students, why can't there be a club for white students? I don't technically see anything wrong with it, although apparently some people do (the girl who started that club- don't remember her name- she was like on the news and in a few magazines, her school made a big schmuck out of it).</p>

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<p>Caucasian clubs at many schools still going strong. It shouldn't come as a surprise since this is 2009... HELLO?! Some schools are just too overridden with minorities to allow and accept them yet. It's sad, honestly.</p>

<p>I just wonder what they do. Clubs for caucasians are about... what? Preserving the "thou shall not steal like Mexicans" code? Informing one another of the dangers street life presents (using black thugs as examples)? Helping each other speak perfect english? Whites don't really have their own "thing", besides being taunted that they need a tan and can't dance. Nevermind the KKK references!</p>

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<p>The reason there are non-white clubs is because people are who not white tend to get lumped into the same struggles and issues, despite having different nationalities. Most African Americans cannot pinpoint where exactly in Africa their ancestors came from therefore they just say they have black pride because they all had a similar history in America.
I bet no one would object to a Russian Club, an Italian Club or any other club with a mostly Caucasian background except for well, the Caucasian Club. Most Caucasian clubs are created just to respond to the supposed "unfairness" that the other minorities have their own club and to express their resentment in a covert way. Just walk outside and go to the the millions of communities that are predominately white in America, that's the white club for ya.</p>

<p>bxkxrxxx had a great post.</p>

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<p>bxkxrxxx - you're saying that as if all minorities are the same as others of their race, and only white people are different...yeah, whites are too diverse to lump into one caucasian club, but we can lump all yellows into the Asian Club? makes no sense but whatever...yeah at my college we have an Italian Club and German Club and no one objects...the clubs are definitely not limited to those ethnicities. I went to the Italian club once, because I'm learning Italian and want to study abroad there...basically it's a place for Italian students to speak the language, celebrate the culture, etc.</p>

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<p>^ Obviously I'm not bxkrxrxxx, but I think that if there is an Asian Club it is because a school does not have enough Asians to create a Korean, Chinese, Thai, etc. club yet has a sizable Asian population.
My school has an Asian Students Union, probably for this reason and since the number of Indians is growing, there is now a Desi Club. If the number of Asians of other nationalizes like Koreans and Chinese for example increase my school will probably have a Korean Club or a Chinese Club.</p>

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<p>Oh, sorry I didn't mean for this to turn into a white club argument or anything. I was just annoyed that I didn't feel connected to a culture like all my other friends. I guess I can blame my parents for this for raising me only as an American. (I like being American tho ;])</p>

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<p>I'm agnostic. I hang out in the Catholic club anyway. Never mind that I keep crossing myself the wrong way and don't know the words to the Hail Mary.</p>

<p>If you're friendly, tolerant, and participate in club events, they'll be glad to have another member regardless of what religion you are. Race might be a little different because it's more obvious if your skin's not a certain color. But just mingle and get to know the people and you'll be fine :)</p>

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<p>Just join a random ethnic club! Make friends and everyone will appreciate you for being so welcoming to other cultures. Even if everyone in the club simply knows you as "that one white guy," you'd still be known and they'll still be friendly to you ^_^.</p>

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<p>"Caucasian Club" screams "White Power Club" to me. I don't see the problem with English Club, Russian Club, Spanish Club, Italian Club, etc. though.</p>

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<p>
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...but I think that if there is an Asian Club it is because a school does not have enough Asians to create a Korean, Chinese, Thai, etc. club yet has a sizable Asian population.

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<p>Exactly.</p>

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I grew up in a typical, white-suburban household. My family was definitely not religious but I am very accepting of other people's cultures. Most of my friends are not asian or indian

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<p>Uhh, there are also non-whites who grew up in, let's say, generic/mainstream suburbia.</p>

<p>And what's the feeling "left out"?</p>

<p>American society, in general, and what you see on TV and in films, books, magazine, advertisements/commercials, etc. is your "club" (as well as mine, at least on a cultural level).</p>

<p>If you ant to join a club - then just join it (so what if you get weird looks at first - as long as you show an earnest interest in learning, the club members likely will warm up to you).</p>

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Everyone kept giving me these weird looks and, to be honest, it did feel strange being the only white kid there.

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<p>Congrats on feeling a tiny bit of what most minorities experience throughout their lives.</p>

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I guess I can blame my parents for this for raising me only as an American.

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<p>So... native Americans who learn about their culture aren't "American"?</p>

<p>Of what about Americans who grew up in the Creole/Cajun culture or the SouthWest/TexMex culture or the culture of the Deep South, etc.?</p>

<p>And whose culture is more American?</p>

<p>"White America" or that of "Black America"? (Both, btw, having numerous sub-cultures).</p>

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<p>the reason there are no "white clubs" is because practically EVERY club is a white club.</p>

<p>there are cultural clubs because members of those minorities are UNDERREPRESENTED in society.</p>

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<p>Why did you change my quote to "not asian or indian"? And I know there's a lot of non-whites who grew up like that. I can't speak for everyone, but the minority groups I've witnessed were raised embracing their heritage. I feel "left out" because I am not connected with a certain culture like my friends.</p>

<p>When I said I grew up American, I mean I grew up with only American influences. Like you said American society, in general, and what you see on TV and in films, books, magazine, advertisements/commercials, etc. I was not outrightly exposed to other cultures like my friends were.</p>

<p>The thing about joining these clubs is that I never had a passion for them. And I'm just jealous of my friends who did.</p>

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<p>^ Wait a minute - so, you don't even want to join these clubs, but you're complaining you feel left out because hypothetically speaking, if you did want to join and had a passion, then you couldn't anyway out of social awkwardness? whaaaat....?</p>

<p>Stop acting like in these clubs, minorities do some secret ritual you can't be a part of. I'm paki-American. I went to the South Asian Students Association. I met a lot of international students from India. We ate Indian food and talked about a fundraiser they were holding, a Bollywood-themed dance open to ALL students in the college...we talked about advertising for the event, selling tickets, hosting the party, catering, etc. Pretty much the club gives an opportunity for brown kids to eat spicy food and talk about cultural holidays. It's really nothing special or exciting. I can't imagine there's white kids out there saying, "Oh if ONLY I could be in that club! I could eat shish kabobs and watch Bollywood movies with all my cool brown friends! Gee, too bad I'm white!" haha no.</p>

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<p>ok enough!!! ill go join the ski club :P</p>

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<p>
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I can't imagine there's white kids out there saying, "Oh if ONLY I could be in that club! I could eat shish kabobs and watch Bollywood movies with all my cool brown friends! Gee, too bad I'm white!" haha no.

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<p>haha i love going to my indian friends' events! the food is sooo good and so is the music and everyone dances :)
and indian boys are totally adorable.</p>

<p>i'll pass on the bollywood movies, though haha</p>

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<p>"you're saying that as if all minorities are the same as others of their race, and only white people are different...yeah, whites are too diverse to lump into one caucasian club, but we can lump all yellows into the Asian Club? makes no sense but whatever"</p>

<p>Then you lay down your case to the founders of Asian Club, Black Club, etc. What exactly do you think they do in Black Club? Think about it for a second. It couldn't be a gathering of same race people just for the sake of having it, since they DO allow non-blacks in. In fact, as hilarious as it sounds, a black club could have all white people.</p>

<p>If races didn't have their own "traditions", "stereotypes", "struggles", etc, they would not have seperate clubs for them. Come up with those for caucasians, and you might just get away with a successful White Club. It's not about the people who join them, it's about the interesting subject: THAT specific race. Are white people interesting enough?</p>

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<p>^ the thing is, white people do have their own traditions/stereotypes or whatever, but those are part of the mainstream culture. For example, in my college there's a club for Korean Christians, who are obviously not part of the mainstream american culture. but stuff like frat parties, beer pong, partying and drinking are all part of the mainstream college culture, and white culture as well...whites don't need their own clubs to do that kind of stuff. not that anyone really needs a club, but it's nice to have one.</p>