TAMPA, Fla. -- Riding in a flamboyant purple vehicle, Ja Du shows up to a coffee shop to open up about his new identity.
Ja Du, born a white male named Adam, now considers himself a Filipino. Turns out the purple ride he drives around in is called a Tuk Tuk, an Asian-derived vehicle used for public transit in the Philippines he says.
Ja Du is part of a small, but growing community of people who considers themselves transracial. It refers to someone born one race, but identifies with another.
Sound weird? Not to them. Ja Du says he grew up enjoying Filipino food, events and the overall culture.
“Whenever I’m around the music, around the food, I feel like I’m in my own skin,” he said.
“I’d watch the history channel sometimes for hours you know whenever it came to that and you know nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture.”
If you’re thinking this sounds familiar, you might remember the story of Rachel Dolezal. Dolezal was born white, but identified as black and portrayed herself as such. She was even the president of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the NAACP.
After she appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil, the term transracial started to become more widely known. Now, we are finding out this community of people who identify as another race is growing. If you look on Facebook, where we found Ja Du, groups dubbed transracial are popping up with dozens of members.
Standpoint from a psychologist
Dr. Stacey Scheckner is a licensed psychologist with a B.A. from Washington University, plus M.A. and doctorate from Florida State. She hasn’t had a client who wanted to change their race but has worked with many clients wanting to change their body in some way.
Living life as a transracial
Ja Du talks about becoming trans-racial
WTSP
“If someone feels that they feel at home with a certain religion, a certain race, a certain culture, I think that if that’s who they really feel inside life is about finding out who you are. The more knowledge you have of yourself, the happier you can be,” she said.
“And, as long as it’s not hurting yourself or anyone else, I don’t see a problem with that.”
Ja Du hasn’t told his family yet because he believes they will laugh at the notion of changing your ethnicity. The public was very critical of Dolezal and might be for him as well, but Scheckner believes everyone should be more understanding.
“If that’s who they are and they want to celebrate it and enjoy it, then you have to think what harm is it doing? All they want to do is throw themselves into that culture and celebrate it.”
“I think before we get offended, we need to take a step back and think about what is the harm.”
But, with someone making such drastic changes, she does think they should speak to a professional.
“I work with a lot, in my 15 years, a lot of transgender people. Before the doctors that I send them to do any type of physical changes to their body, they go through a long process with me and actually most the people, they are not upset about it because they want to make sure that they’re doing the right thing.”
That brings up another major change with Ja Du. He is also transsexual and is considering changing his gender as well. He has spoken to his mom and family about that.
Preventing fraud
Your race can make you more marketable and in some cases eligible for certain benefits, jobs and scholarships. After quick Google search for ethnic scholarships, we found that a Filipino scholarship was the second option that popped up.
Many might question Ja Du’s intentions or say that he is a perfect case of cultural appropriation.
He knows this can be a problem, but says he’s not trying to take advantage of anything.
“I believe people will [take advantage] just like other people have taken advantage of their identity to get their way, but the difference between me and them Garin is that I don’t want that. I think that we all have the freedoms to pursue happiness in our own ways,” he said.
More about transracial
The term was normally used to describe someone (or a couple) of a certain race adopting a baby of another race. But, now after the story of Rachel Dolezal, it’s becoming associated with someone who identifies with another ethnicity or race.
If you Google the term now, you will find plenty of stories and information referring to both definitions for the term.
White 'transgender' dude now says he's a Filipino, and transracial
White 'transgender' dude now says he's a Filipino, and transracial
The end of days is coming.... Sodom and bleeding Gomorrah.
Massive stalker
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LOL, I met a few of these types during my time in SEA. Back in 2003, no FB back then, we used the Yahoo chat group to share our amusements, communication or what not. I went to South korea on that year from meeing the Korean exchange students to my uni they asked to visit their town during my summer break, also because of the online Penpal thing and the K-pop influence.
Anyway, I was in a small town called Ansan no more than 20 foreigners back then, we usually gather and socialize at a bar called Havana in town every Friday nights...met this American Eric always referred to himself as a Cambodian when people asked where he is from. On the third week, I had enough of his BS, and as one of my parents is a Khmer I called him out. I simply said Cambodian people normally referred to themselves as Khmer. Eric wasn't happy when I confronted him in front of the public and all a long he thought I was Jap or Chinese Kiwi. I had never been to Cambodia back then but my Khmer was still better than his and he couldn't utter more than the hello, how much, and how are you when Khmer is spoken. It was laughable but all the expats on the tables thought he must of spent quite some time in Cambodia. They were absolutely clueless.
Knew he was busted, trying to save himself from the embarrassment he gets his Moroccan homie to intimidate me getting me to leave while the expats on the table havent a clue, and I was intimated he was a dark, tall with scary look eyes except for Luke an Aussie mate from Tasmania where we usually hang over couple of pitchers after work each night....and he did not make it a secret he simply said "chicken its all good I will take care of this cunt if he lay a hand on you." I later learned the midget Eric messed around with a powerful figure in Cambodia hence he fled....didnt make sense to me back as where I grew up connection does you no good if you are in the wrong. Last I heard a few months later Eric got his teeth knocked out in Seoul in Itaewon at the Hollywood Bar and Grill. Never heard about Eric again since.
Anyway, I was in a small town called Ansan no more than 20 foreigners back then, we usually gather and socialize at a bar called Havana in town every Friday nights...met this American Eric always referred to himself as a Cambodian when people asked where he is from. On the third week, I had enough of his BS, and as one of my parents is a Khmer I called him out. I simply said Cambodian people normally referred to themselves as Khmer. Eric wasn't happy when I confronted him in front of the public and all a long he thought I was Jap or Chinese Kiwi. I had never been to Cambodia back then but my Khmer was still better than his and he couldn't utter more than the hello, how much, and how are you when Khmer is spoken. It was laughable but all the expats on the tables thought he must of spent quite some time in Cambodia. They were absolutely clueless.
Knew he was busted, trying to save himself from the embarrassment he gets his Moroccan homie to intimidate me getting me to leave while the expats on the table havent a clue, and I was intimated he was a dark, tall with scary look eyes except for Luke an Aussie mate from Tasmania where we usually hang over couple of pitchers after work each night....and he did not make it a secret he simply said "chicken its all good I will take care of this cunt if he lay a hand on you." I later learned the midget Eric messed around with a powerful figure in Cambodia hence he fled....didnt make sense to me back as where I grew up connection does you no good if you are in the wrong. Last I heard a few months later Eric got his teeth knocked out in Seoul in Itaewon at the Hollywood Bar and Grill. Never heard about Eric again since.
Last edited by the chicken on Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"Ja Du, born a white male named Adam, now considers himself a Filipino"....."Ja Du is part of a small, but growing community of people who considers themselves transracial." Since when has Filipino been a race! I think transnational would be more accurate.
Or maybe transpecies
Or maybe transpecies
- spitthedog
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Does he also consider himself the gayest man in his village?
"I don't care what the people are thinking, i ain't drunk i'm just drinking"
FTFY, sweetiespitthedog wrote:Does he also consider himself the ONLY gayest man in his village?
Trump is a genius!
Being transgender wasn’t getting him enough attention so he’s trying out this transracial thing for a while.
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach English."
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
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Why is a white man claiming to be black/Filipino any more absurd than him claiming to be female? If we can all choose our gender without regard to biology why can’t we choose our ethnicity?
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
I personally don't care what people think they are, as long a sit doesn't adversely or unfairly affect me.
People who do mind are the real problem.
People who do mind are the real problem.
Trump is a genius!
- Lucky Lucan
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Yes, damn all those people who don't accept him as a Filipino woman, what the hell is their problem?maven wrote:I personally don't care what people think they are, as long a sit doesn't adversely or unfairly affect me.
People who do mind are the real problem.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Can a white male that becomes transgender apply for law school and qualify for affirmative action as a woman?gavinmac wrote:Why is a white man claiming to be black/Filipino any more absurd than him claiming to be female? If we can all choose our gender without regard to biology why can’t we choose our ethnicity?
Do gay men qualify for affirmative action?
- Phuket2006
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i feel i am transracial as when ever i hear Bob Marley i want smoke a joint, grow my hair and pray to Haile Selassie
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
If this isn't a windup, I'm having a problem with the language. Transracial is not an accurate term.The more accurate term might be transethnic, transcultural, or more specifically having a cultural identity that differs from ones heritage. e.g. If I have euro-american or european parents and I was born and raised in the Philippines immersed in the culture for let's say 15 years and grew up speaking Tagalog it might be a more accurate assessment and profile of culturally identity to say "identifies Philipino."
- Steve Zodiac
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Blue "Crocks"?, I love a Man/lady/indeterminate with a sense of humor.
- spitthedog
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Bongs,
They say identity is a fragile thing, and we live in a crazy world. Trust me.
IF you believe 'transgender' involves some sort of ''gender identity disorder'', then i wonder whether ''transracial'' will be a new trend developing? - Nationality Identity Disorder?
They say identity is a fragile thing, and we live in a crazy world. Trust me.
IF you believe 'transgender' involves some sort of ''gender identity disorder'', then i wonder whether ''transracial'' will be a new trend developing? - Nationality Identity Disorder?
"I don't care what the people are thinking, i ain't drunk i'm just drinking"
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