To all my fellow mixed people, I don’t know about you guys but I get some pretty interesting, and often offensive, comments concerning my race on the daily. If you aren’t biracial, you can get something from this article too: be respectful when asking questions regarding another person’s race.

You might mean well, but sometimes you can come off as ignorant or just straight-up rude. These are the 5 phrases I’m tired of hearing and people shouldn't even be asking anymore.

1. “Can I touch your hair?”

When I wear my hair natural, I get asked this question an absurd amount of times throughout the week. I understand that the curly texture of my hair is fascinating, and you are wondering if it is soft and springy or thick and tangled; yet, would you ask any other stranger if you could touch their hair? It’s not a compliment to me, its aggravating. You wouldn't do it to anyone else, so don't try it with me. And honestly, if you had someone asking to pet you every time you went out into public, you’d be irritated by this question too.

2. “You don’t even look [insert one of my races here]”

I thought you looked like a sensible person until you said this. We are all made uniquely and beautifully with our own features. It’s unfortunate that you have an image in your head of what people from individual races are supposed to look like, but don’t tell me I’m not something because I don’t look how you expect me to look. My complexion is my own and I happily represent the blending of my multiple races.

3. “You talk so white!”

STOP. USING. THIS. PHRASE. If anything triggers me, it’s that sentence right there. This is just a little offensive, its hella offensive. Do not describe mine, or anyone's, use of proper grammar and literateness as “white”. You cannot talk a color; my manner of speaking has nothing to do with my race. People of all races and ethnicities have the ability to speak properly and do so with ease.

4. “One or more race”

I get this one every time I fill out a form or standardized test. The test asks your race and lists off races that you can bubble in. To my displeasure, one of the last bubbles is “one or more race”. On even worse occasions, there is no bubble for multiple races and I am forced to pick one or the other. It’s a little disheartening that I can’t identify with both of my races in situations like these. Having the option of “one or more” makes me feel as if being more than one thing is illegitimate while having to pick a single race. Standardized tests and forms already suck; suck a little less and let me bubble all my races please and thank you.

5. "Which parents is which?"

I've never understood why people ask this question. Does it really matter which of my parents is black and which is white? You've already made multiple other assumptions in your head, I should probably just let you assume this one too. If you meet my beautiful family, then you'll see; until then, whats it to you?

I love love love that people find me interesting and genuinely want to know about my racial background; I just wish they would go about it a different way. You can respectfully comment on someone's race without using any of the above phrases or making assumptions. I welcome anyone interest into my lovely mixed family, just be cautious of what you're saying and how you are saying it.