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.
I know I shouldn’t think that, but the apartment complex I live in has a lot of Middle Easterners that don’t speak English. So in my mind I kinda mentally double take because I assume the adults don’t speak English, at least not as well as their kids. I know I shouldn’t assume like that, but it happens, more than I’d like to admit.