Let’s get some things clear. My parents were born in the southern Italian province of Calabria, commonly known as the “toe” of Italy. I was born in Chicago, raised in a very Southern Italian setting in an immigrant working-class community. As a result, I proudly self-identify as Southern Italian American. For reasons to be discussed in a future blog posting, I do not identify as “white.” I do identify as European American.
Last week, I was involved in a minor traffic accident in Raleigh. Some punk rear-ended me and fled. It was not a huge deal by any means – two small scratches on the bumper. The police reported zero fatalities.
Still, I decided to file a police report. People shouldn’t be allowed to hit-and-run whoever they want. I called the police the next day to have them investigate. A police officer interviewed me and the other people in the car.
I received the report today, and I was surprised. There is my name, my driver’s license number, my mailing address, and my sex. No issues for these. However, the checkmark in the next box is what alarmed me. According to the City of Raleigh police officer, my race is “unknown.”
I’d like to make very clear that I am a first-generation American. I do not have to trace very far back to obtain my racial identity. I know my roots. I know who I am. Don’t lie to me. My racial identity is known.
