The phrase, which has been described as “every urban Black woman’s angst”, was the first sexist comment ever levelled at me – and the first of many bizarre interactions I, along with many other Aboriginal women, endure when announcing our heritage.
Mostly, I am met with pure shock – and often, an onslaught of backhanded compliments:
“But you’re so articulate … and exotic.”
“You’re not like those other ones.”
“What percentage Aboriginal are you?”