If you're commenting about how she does or doesn't LOOK Mexican, you totally missed her point. This video is about NOT judging based on looks or assuming based on accents and background. You wasted 12 minutes and 42 seconds watching an incredibly intelligent woman speak about one of America's greatest problems right now. This is why America is what it is in terms of unity. It's not unified at all. God bless you all and may we wake up.

Loved the fact that she talked both languages and shared the stigma many of us have when we see someone. I know i deal with it.

What are you talking about Vanessa?!?! YOU DO LOOK MEXICAN AND HISPANIC. My grandmother is a blond, blue eyed woman born, raised, and living in San Miguel del Alto, Jalisco. 30% of Mexico's population is white.

I'm Mexican and I'm a legal citizen but my mom wasn't in the 1993 but got her citizenship in 2000. Sometimes I visit my grandma in mexico and in the airport I've had people look at me like "what are Mexicans doing on this plane?" "Are they getting deported" no I'm not getting deported I'm just visiting my grandma and I hate that they assume that I'm an illegal Mexican.

I am Mexican, born and raised in US. But there have been people that don’t believe I’m Mexican or that I am Mexican enough. I understand Spanish, but I don’t speak it very well and I get judged for it even by my own relatives. I grew up in a very white dominate town. At 37 years old now, I am trying to learn how to speak Spanish and getting to know my heritage. When I was younger, I just didn’t care about these things. Took me this long to finally get inspired to get to know more about my family and ancestors. And I’m excited about learning all I can.

most people I know from Mexico looks like her, even whiter

She looks pretty mexican. What is she talking about?

What a beautiful, articulate,Well spoken , good hearted young woman.. Well done Vanessa you are a blessing.

Only foreigners ask, "You don't look Mexican" which to us is offensive. We come in different shapes and colors.

When people asked me where I am from? I always say: " From planet earth, son of God like you! we are brothers".

Lynda Carter is Mexican - now THAT should be a mind-bender to you if you have preconceived notions about what a Mexican is. Baseball great Ted Williams was Mexican. The original Daisy Duke, Catherine Bach - Mexican-descent. Also Joanna Kerns, Demi Lovato, Linda Christian, Sara Paxton, Vanessa Marcil, Kat Von D, Louis CK, and Vikki Carr - all Mexicans. Raquel Welch and Vanna White are Hispanic BTW.

Can't believe most people only concentrated on her Mexican or American looks. Can u listen to the content of her message? She is refering on how other people persive her based on how she looks. She is proud of her background and her roots and that says a lot to me!!

Hearing you speaking Spanish is not surprising to me and I believe it will not be surprising if you lived or visited Spain or if you worked on Mexican TV in Mexico

There are thousands of Mexicans that look like her or whiter in my family there is lots of member with green eyes and real light brown hair it's pretty common there

Never judge a book by it's cover! I have been asked by strangers oh your Hindi or you must be Filipino or Samoan or Native American....uhm NO! I'm American with Mexican descent. I've been called names for not properly speaking Spanish. I'm proud to be the daughter of a Immigrant father and a Tejano Mother. People have always made assumptions and I guess I have so myself. You're right taking a moment to soak in the situation and turn it around into something more Positive. Thank you for Sharing!!!!

My mother was born in Puerto Rico. She came here when she was 17. Several years back my Mother moved to a half million dollar home in Hartland Michigan. Very nice sub-division so nice that few women who lived in the sub brought over a cake to welcome the new owners of this expensive home. When my mom answered the door the nice women form this sub asked, " is the woman of the house home"? My mother answered, "yes". So one of they lady's said, Can you please fetch her"? My mother said, "ok". She left and came back said to the ladies, "Can I help you in the lady of the house"? My mother told me thoes women were so embarrassed and kept apologizing. They thought she was the Maid. Lol

I'm Mexican and lived in US and worked there as an engineer. I did my MSc and PhD in the United Kingdom, but my BSc is from Mexico and the BSc was ultimately what made me. When I was living and working in the US people couldn't comprehend: a) How come I was pale if I was Mexican, b) how come I spoke such good English, c) how come I was working alongside their best as an engineer. The only way they could reconcile that in their brains was "ah, but you are not like most Mexicans". To appease the beast I would just nod silently, I didn't feel I had to educate them or help them with their ignorance. Reality is that given the opportunity most Mexicans will thrive; sadly opportunities are not easy to come by because by definition a Mexican does not fit the American narrative thus it becomes self-perpetuating.

This was really a great talk - gave me some feels and brought up some tears and I honestly don't know why but being an empath I guess I felt some of the strong emotions she was not showing. I am sharing this one with my group. Very nice.

That was a really nice lecture! I admire her courage and humbleness through her speech. Why do we care about skin color or language? Todos somos seres humanos.

Well Mexican is simply a nationality. She fits in Mexico with no problem. There are millions (20 million aprox.) of whites in Mexico many of them are even blue eyed blondes. The reason why u don't see too many white Mexicans in the US is because most white Mexicans are educated and financially well established in their home land so there's no need to immigrate. Any well travelled person will tell u that.

Aren't we all American? I thought this continent is composed of North and South America. We are all American.

You do look mexican.

All the people commenting: 'You do look Mexican'. Bruh, you are the reason the video exists. Try watching a few more times.

Mexican-Americans all look differently. Vanessa not all Mexican-Americans look the same. I never once doubt you being Mexican-American by the way you look. I am 5'5", with light colored skin, with freckles, I speak Spanish fluently and I speak English fluently. Both of my parents are from Mexico. And one last thing, Mexicans also are Americans.

Vanessa, this is so well done. Such an honor to share the stage with you.

gente como vanessa es lo unico que "makes america great again"

Most people commenting here don't realize she is not talking about herself not looking mexican but the assumption of people that determine some aspects of their personality by the way the other person looks or their name or something else with out knowing that person like she said we all do it sometimes

I wonder why is so important the color of the skin or ethnic background? I noticed that US and Argentina really care about it. My preliminary conclusions: rampant racism and low esteem. We are all humans after all, please wake up!

She looks like she can be from ANY country in the world!

"I'm Mexican. Does that change your assumptions about me?" No. I just saved myself almost 12 minutes.

The name Mexico comes from the world Meshika/Mexica aka the Aztecs who spoke nahuatl, Mexico had dozens of nations and empires, with over 200 indigenous languages, which of 68 are still alive and well. Do a little research, Mexico doesn't even have an official language it has 69 including Spanish.

I love your talk Vanessa, I'm hooked and i am a fan, i have watched your talk many times over. The more i listen, the more deeply i consider your words. Yes, we are all the same, we are all one. Thanks my friend for your fine TED talk.

The truth of the matter is people who look like her (light skin) is that they have their own hangups about being Latino, I hear this all the time from Latinos who are light skin, " Oh omg people are always so surprised I speak Spanish," the only people who are surprised by this nonsense is people who for the most part have preconceived notions of what a person should look like if they are of Hispanic descent and don't have much contact with Spanish speaking peoples. Otherwise for those of us who are Latinos all we say is get over yourself because we already did.

You're talking as if Mexican and White were opposite things. Mexican is a nationality whereas "White" refers to ethnicity. That's an obvious trait of being raised in the United States where race based and cultural labels are like a car's license plates: everyone must have one.

great job.i came to the usa 22 years ago.i want my 2 kids to be like that smart bilingual and great people..

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION!!!!.. I AM A VERY PROUD MEXICAN WOMAN. I SPEAK TWO LANGUAGUES. MY HUSBAND, WHO I MET IN MEXICO CITY 36 YEARS AGO SPEAKS 4, AS WELL AS MY 3 CHILDREN (33, 31 AND 29) WHAT A GIFT!!!!

Omg I can’t believe people found a reason to hate on this. I loved it and she does look like a white girl and is half white, her dad is white.

I'm Mexican-American, mom from Morelia, Michoacan, Dad from Mexico City, and I'm whiter than a lot of my non-hispanic white friends. I have no problem with people considering me white. Mexican is not a race. We are not all short, dark skinned indians.

Wonderful story and Great Speaker. You Rock!

Wait, she looks like a regular Mexican for me!! mmm no wait again Mexican can look like Africans, Europeans, Asians or Indigenas, i have Italian roots and i look like european but i'm 100% Mexican

*I can absolutely relate to her.* _Peace and love to everyone from Houston, TX._

Why is everyone saying "y0u dO lOoK MeXIcAn" *Mexican is NOT a RACE it's a nationality*

She is trying to break stereotypes that all Mexicans are short brown and sleep under cactus with a sombrero and sarape. WE KNOW SHE LOOKS MEXICAN, because we know our people, but Americans MIGHT not know.

There’s this kid in my school who’s Mexican and has blond hair and blue eyes.

Thank you for taking the time to speak up and trying to open every one's eyes .

We come in all colors in Mexico my sisters look straight Irish red hair pale skin color and I’m real light skin looks like I have been tanning all year long but I’m Mexican American but both parents are from Mexico n we Hispanics Latinos whatever you want to call us our heritage n language is beautiful just like any other beautiful race and thank you for making this video

“She looks pretty Mexican to me” dawg y’all are missing the point. The stereotypical vision of a Mexican is not what most would say this woman is. Ask any white American to define a stereotypical Mexican and they’ll say sombrero and brown. Y’all are cool bcs you can see that Mexicans come in all shapes and sizes. But the majority of people in America don’t think that.

This has been the most amazing video about the points from both side. this is so freaking on point she is the speaking the mind of millions of people.

People in the US seem to forget that the Spanish language came from Spain, a European country. It would be expected that a Spanish speaker would look like her back in the old days.

Si pareces mexicana, mucho

Y’all are sayin she looks mexican. Because we SEE Mexicans like that everyday, we are exposed to that. Anyone else won’t because the public’s view of Mexican is different.

You people only say she looks mexican becAuse she told us. You see her on the street and hear her talk, you would never know.

When she said she identifies as a woman of color I literally teared up. She literally is me. I look just like her and I also have some small freckles and slight red pigmentation in my hair but just because I have certain features doesn’t mean I see myself white. I am literally torn about how people judge me when Spanish was my first language. My family is Mexican and I am second generation in the US and bc I speak and act a certain way I am viewed as white around certain people and I get the “hablas espanol?” in other situations. And to boot, I would get the “you speak Spanish like a gringa”...I could never make anyone happy and it’s the struggle of the first generations here in the US that you can’t fit in to any culture correctly.

I am Mexican living in the USA. Oddly, I speak perfect English and Spanish. I am not here illegally and I crossed the border by car with passport and visa. People assume I am Mexican-American when they find out I am Mexican typically when they ask the question that everybody ask at a "non-Caucasian without offending because could be American born". That question is "Where are your parents from?" It is funny that I am 19 years old in I WORKED hard to obtain my scholarship and grades and I say "I am an immigrant" but I do not like that as soon as I say this, people say "Oh I understand. I support DACA/undocumented" I feel bad, because I am lucky that I have hard working middle class parents that as united we arrive to the USA legally, and I do not share the same story that many Hispanics living with an undocumented parent. It is not my story yet I have to pretend/clarify due to the media and the people around us. It is also bit misleading because after people find out I do not share the same story as other immigrants- they do not know how to act around me or start thinking that I might be "some rich kid" which in reality I don't. My mom is a small business owner and my dad is retired. I just work as hard as everyone else yet these stereotypes, media among immigrants, statistics about undocumented stories, and children of my generation in the US having growing up in these household does affect on how people view me including my own Mexican community.

Filipinos were once Latinos. Our ancestors hablan español muy bien not until americans colonized Philippines. Now Filipinos are just remembered as the people who has spanish last names, who counts in spanish, who's days in a week are in spanish, who has thousands of spanish loan words pero no hablan español.

I think she's making the assumption that she DOESN'T look Mexican...

Great job, Vanessa!

I'm a dark skin and from Mexico and people have told me I don't Mexican because Mexicans are usually light skin ... We all look different

I’ve honestly never related to something so deeply and in such a meaningful way in my whole life

Great story, thank you for sharing

Your parents make a strong proud beautiful women!

What a Beautiful woman!!! I’m glad she gave this Authentic, Raw conversation 🤗 There are so many misinformed, Uncultured Americans that believe are Superior to people from different Countries. We are All Gods kids

I've seen Mexicans that claim that they look white and that people perceive them as white at first glance, but she looks very Mexican to me and so have the people I've encountered. Lolq

Excellent presentation! Proud. Keep opening eyes and hearts. The world needs more like you.

you look more mexican than the plate of frijoles i had this morning

Yesss I’m sooo glad you shared your story 😭😊😊🙏🏼

I was 13 years old before integration started. Before that, there were numerous people with Hispanic names in our school. We knew they were Spanish ancestry. There was Peter Lopez, Alex Lombardo, "Matti" (Madeline) Garcia, Paul Martinez, and others, but I don't remember it making any difference to any of us. After all, it was a segregated school. We knew they were Spanish ancestry, but we also knew Lois Schultz was German ancestry, Mac McNulty was Scottish ancestry, Brian O'Neal was Irish, etc. None of that mattered that I ever heard. Then, sometime in the '70s or so, Mexicans and other Hispanics suddenly became a "race". I have no idea how or why

Vanessa...mi corazón está siempre contigo..soy mexicano del estado de Michoacán.

I love and respect your point of view your emotional intelligence is out of this world I respect you so much do this Ted talk my dream is to have a Ted talk of my own one day and to know that you open up the gates for me is amazing ( I'm also Mexican American) and I thank you for being so brave and amazing !

I love this. I frequently get calls and mail from utility type services in Spanish. I was married. Then widowed. I still have the name. It's hard to believe such assumptions are made by such big name companies.

My parents are both Mexican. I am a US NAVY veteran. Dad had green eyes (got smuggled in the dashboard of a car at 17) Mom is more tan beautiful woman with perfect smile (no braces)…I also spoke Spanish first. Now “I speak so well.” MOTIVATION. Anyone who feels different (not race) just different should feel INSPIRED by this video. Thank you Ma’am.

Thank you, this is my story and that of my family as well. I was also raised in Colima and how you explained how your mom crossed the border in Tijuana, it's almost like you are describing my life. wow. Thank you. I now live in a great country above the USA and only because as Hispanic, I never felt welcome, where as in my country now, I am respected and welcomed. Thank you and truly appreciate you.

she's beautiful..

Bravo!! Very articulate and honest. You go girl!! Keep it going Missy.

This is so beautiful she’s so intelligent and helping encourage others who come from a non full American documented household! What’s a bright or intelligent woman

A lot of people are pointing out that she isn’t even that light or that there are plenty of light skinned Mexicans, lighter than her.....note that she grew up in the US, she is biracial (Mexican and white), she is light skinned and her name is Vanessa Vancour... all is this has influenced people’s perception of her and why she has been treated the way she has, despite not being that light skinned or despite actually looking Mexican as some may feel.

En vez de escuchar y enorgullecerse de ella, la crítica la misma gente de su raza. Que decepción de algunos y pena frente a otras personas inteligentes que le aplauden. Me da orgullo saber de personas como ella.

ahh you look Mexican. It would be my first question.."Are you Mexican or Hispanic?" idk how others cant tell.

she is absolutely gorgeous

I love this.... people talk Spanish to my son and he just looks at him and says I don't speak Spanish and then comes up to me and says hey Mom and that confuses the heck out of people it's so cute and such a cute way he's grown up I always laugh when that happens he does too I love the story thank you

Minute 10 is priceless, imagine how things would change and tensions could ease over the next 5-20 years if this became our standard response to our kids and ourselves.

Assumptions are a very efficient way to take decisions when you don't have enough information about a particular situation, our ability to correct and be more accurate is what makes the difference. if I'm walking on the sidewalk in a statistically more dangerous neighborhood by night alone and a guy dress like rapper comes across me, it's wise to assume he can rob me and better to take a couple of meters of distance.

I say you are your own person. and people can't stop you from being who you are. Because, we are all human being and such respect each other regardless of race and language.

You go girl. I’m white from Puerto Rican Parents. I have gone through discrimination. I grew up in an African American Community so that’s what I sound like. I learned to be Proud of all that I am. It’s a Great combination. I enjoy it all except the discrimination I have endured at the hands of some not all White Americans. Which always baffled me because they’re immigrants themselves

she says shes both white and mexican, as in if she was both diferent races. Mexican is not a race, but a nationality, I wonder if she knows the difference. Ethnicity is something based on culture and not genetics. Shes something else far from mexican. Americans have a really vague idea of what a Mexican looks like based on the immigrants that arrive to the US.

She looks pretty Mexican for me

What does it matter if others have assumptions of you? What they think doesn't define you. What matters is what you think of yourself, stay positive and confident in your own skin. You put to much emphasis on what others think. So who cares what they think. Be proud of who you are and the culture you carry.

Well done -- loved this talk. The play of language and the important lessons and questions raised....

Whoever stereotypes Mexicans is because they don't know Mexico at all and all the different races that built that country including Anglos, being Mexican is not a race but a culture and citizenship not counting nationality, because you can be any race born in Mexico makes you Mexican nothing else!

You are a beautiful woman, proud of you girl!!!

I have three other sibblings and we all have college degrees. I look very Mexican. My mom crossed with my older sister in the late 70's. My father was here on an over stayed student visa. I've known their story since I remember anything else. I have an MSW, and a clinical LCSW. Most people think that I'm the receptionist at my office or the cleaning lady. I'm actually the Clinical Lead. People assume so much about me. I feel like my presence in my space educates people both Latino and others as to what a Latina can be.

Grasias Vanes por compartir tu testimonio DIOS te bendiga eres un ejemplo para los que como yo que todavia no tienen una carrera esto me ayuda después de mirar tu testimonio esto me ayuda a esforzarme a luchar para seguir adelante...🙅‍♂️

I'm Russian, people think I'm either Greek, Spanish (cause I have a good tan)😂😎, or Chinese. I'm from Siberia😎

Privileged to have heard her speak, as my parents are 20 min. from Colima Mexico.

Been Mexican is a nationality. Lupita Nyong’o was born in Mexico but she lived for two Years in Mexico then move to Kenya where she was raised. Some ppl are Mexican by birth or getting marring with a Mexican person and you get you new passport with and eagle eating the snake. Or etc. This lady was born in the US and raised there she is American with a Mexican parent. That’s it her spanish is pretty good yes she has a pocha kind of accent but is ok.

there are light-skin Mexicans... some are actually full european, some are mixed castizo or mestizo... but they are not the majority as the "telenovelas" would like us to believe... most of those actors are foreigners from argentina or colombia

She reminds me of my first girlfriend, a beautiful Mexican girl from Guadalajara

I look indian people think I'm indian but I'm mexican lol 🤣🤣 😆

I've had it the other way around. I'm Mexican-American too and I get mistaken or asked if speak Arabic. lol Then people are surprised that I speak or understand Spanish because they see me and think I am Middle Eastern. lol

Amazing TED Talk Vanessa!!! Bravo! Increíble! Muchas gracias por tener la fuerza y el cometido de hablar tu historia! 🙏🏽☀️