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​Transracial Man Says He Now Identifies As Filipino

​Transracial Man Says He Now Identifies As Filipino

The man, formerly known as Adam, lives in Florida and now goes by the name Ja Du after spending years studying Filipino food and music.

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

An American man has been living his life as a Filipino, despite having been born white.

The man, formerly known as Adam, lives in Florida and now goes by the name Ja Du after spending years studying Filipino food, music, and culture.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF HIS STORY:

Credit: 10 News

He says he realised from an early age that he was 'transracial' - which means that despite being born into one race or ethnicity he identifies and lives his daily life as another.

In his interview with a local TV news channel, Ja 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"

Ja has asked that his decision be respected and revealed his fears that people within his community may discriminate against him.

He insists that his decision has not been taken lightly, even though he has not yet told his family because he thinks they might laugh at him.

He said: "Whenever I'm around the [Filipino] music, around the food, I feel like I'm in my own skin"

As well as changing his name, Ja has also started driving around in a purple Tuk Tuk - a type of small motorised rickshaw that is popular in Southern Asia, especially in the Philippines.

Pink Tuk tuk
Pink Tuk tuk

His case is not the first of this kind that has caused a stir in the news recently.

In 2015, Rachel Dolezal created controversial headlines after it was revealed that despite having been the head of her local branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coluored People) in Spokane, Washington, she had been born into a white family.

Dolezal, who now goes by the name Nkechi Amare Diallo, was outed to the media by her parents after she reported nine hate crimes against her. The police investigated these claims and found no evidence to support them.

She told the BBC: "If I would have had time to really, you know, discuss my identity, I haven't identified as African-American. I've identified as black. And black is a culture, a philosophy, a political and social view."

After the revelations about her surfaced she was forced to quit her position as an Africana Studies instructor and was accused of cultural appropriation.

She still maintains her black identity and her supporters say that she should be able to live as a black woman regardless of her family heritage.

Featured Image Credit: 10News

Topics: Florida, Interesting, USA