Youth Opinion
What is our race? Does it even matter?
Armenians are one of the few ethnic groups whose racial categorization is entirely up for debate. Are we Eastern European or West Asian? Perhaps we are just Caucasian? But are we Middle Eastern? Are Middle Easterners even White? Why does any of this matter?
No one has a definitive answer. Armenia is nestled in the cleft between Europe and Asia, surrounded by nations and peoples of varying ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It has centuries of history under vastly differen
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Ridiculous question.
Armenians are White Christian Europeans.
Armenia forms Europe’s South-East border with Asia.
It shouldn’t even be a question.
I don’t understand. Armenia is fully in West Asia and used to be much deeper into West Asia before their country was occupied by eastern Turkey (aka the Asian side of Turkey). Armenians on DNA tests (which you can find on youtube) show fully West Asian DNA most of the time (99% and above as they are quite a homogenous ethnic group with little admixture and genetic studies show them most closely related to the Assyrians (also Christian, also not European). Anyways, you can stay ignorant if you want. Also, Armenian Christianity is part of the Oriental Orthodox family of Christianity which is in the same family as Coptic Egyptian and Ethiopian families.
I don’t understand your comment. Armenia is fully in West Asia and used to be much deeper into West Asia before their country was occupied by eastern Turkey (aka the Asian side of Turkey). Armenians on DNA tests (which you can find on youtube) show fully West Asian DNA most of the time (99% and above as they are quite a homogenous ethnic group with little admixture and genetic studies show them most closely related to the Assyrians (also Christian, also not European). Anyways, you can stay ignorant if you want. Also, Armenian Christianity is part of the Oriental Orthodox family of Christianity which is in the same family as Coptic Egyptian and Ethiopian families.
The Transcaucasus (Armenia (in its current borders), Georgia and even the Republic of Azerbaijan) are often counted as a part of Europe for historical, cultural and political reasons (also because they were ruled by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union); geographically however, they are more often counted as a part of Asia. The same also applies to Cyprus. Western Armenia and Cilicia are not and were never counted as a part of Europe though. Most Armenians don’t object to both the Europe and Asia labels. However, when Armenia is wrongly labelled as a part of the Middle East, most Armenians rightly object. I think it is safe and uncontroversial to say that Armenia is a Eurasian nation and country.
Geographically Armenia being south of the Caucasus mountains is considered Asia. It’s people although often swarthy in an Indo Aryan nature are Indo European peoples and as Christians means they are considered Europeans. The Kars plateau of historic western Armenia has never been considered part of Europe and was considered within Asia minor. Georgia facing the black sea and Christians although of the kartelevian peoples like Dagestan and Chechens and Circassians, are considered Europeans whilst their Muslim kin in the Caucasus mountains are less so. Azerbaijan facing the Caspian sea and of Turanian stock and Muslim faith are considered less European than Armenians and Georgians but generally from shared background in the Russian empire and later Soviet realm are associated like Armenia and Georgia as being Europe. Geographically Europe is said to stop at the Caucasus and Ural mountains the Bosporus straight, the straight of Gibraltar and Greenland although that frozen island is actually tectonically linked to North America. Some schools of thought consider the Manich ravine which once linked the Black and Caspian seas to be the local divider between Europe and Asia. Perhaps Armenia racially and culturally is more linked to Europe and geographically just outside.
Perhaps the racial classification doesn’t matter. If this American of Western Armenian descent must ‘pick one’, I’ll go with ‘Middle Eastern’. Because I feel “at home” in the Lebanese and Syrian restaurants / shops of NYC. And I imagine I’m not alone in that sentiment.
URUMIA
Richard Kazarian was my uncle by marriage. His people were from Urumia. His mother, Khoomar and father, Gregory owned a farm where produced was grown. Armenians and Assyrians lived in Urumia in harmony. That all changed in the years 1915-1918 when the Turks encouraged the Kurds to harass, kill and steal from the Christians. It got so bad that everyone would high tail it to the mountains for safety. Gregory however was more than fed up. He told Khoomar he would get to America and bring her there. Finally Koomar’s mother-in-law said,”I’m not going to the mountains anymore. I’m staying here with Levon,” Khoomar’s four year old son. That was a bad decision. When Khoomar got back to the house, her mother-in-law and son were dead – killed by the Kurds. Khoomar and other survivors: Armenian and Assyrian walked out of Urumia with their few possessions and made it to Iraq. Gregory found her there and brought her to America.
I think we shouldn’t take care about USA or USA government statement which is political statement. Armenians are white and just exactly USA Research Center which is not political institution it categories us as Eastern Europeans. Also European Union requires geographic requirements for membership. And they recognize us part of Europe, culturally politically European too. And they rejected Morocco in 1987 and Canada have been told can’t join but they haven’t told us we can’t join which means we are part of Europe meeting to geographic requirements. Armenia is also in Europa Nostra Europe’s Cultural Heritage Organization, Council of Europe 🇪🇺, EU – Eastern European Partnership etc. We are not just randomly in these organizations and partnership. These organizations and partnership is just exactly for Europe. If not then Canada would be told yes for future membership if would like officially decide to apply.
Netherlands University where it says about EU membership process and requirements
https://ecamaastricht.org/blueandyellow-knowyourunion/beyond-formal-requirements-what-is-the-process-of-accession-to-the-eu
USA Research Center where we are categorized Europeans
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/11/03/many-central-and-eastern-europeans-see-link-between-religion-and-national-identity/
Brussels is ‘honored’ Canadians want to join the EU — but says it won’t happen
https://www.politico.eu/article/canadians-want-join-european-union-will-never-happen-paula-pinho/
The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies(Australia). Armenia is in Europe list
https://ifacca.org/places/europe/
Armenia is European (Speech from European Parliament by Viola Von Cramon about us)
https://youtu.be/NLz6pY02dp0?si=Cu40vP2jVWwDGhlf
I am doing research on an Armenian-American athlete from the 1930s. I am sure he was able to blend in well because of his accolades–he was a California Interscholastic Federation champion in track and field in high school, and a star football player in college–but I still don’t believe that he didn’t experience some sort of racism. After all, the majority of colleges were populated by Caucasian students and athletes. Does anyone have any books to suggest?
Thank you!
I don’t understand the comments. Armenia is fully in West Asia and used to be much deeper into West Asia before their country was occupied by eastern Turkey (aka the Asian side of Turkey). Armenians on DNA tests (which you can find on youtube) show fully West Asian DNA most of the time (99% and above as they are quite a homogenous ethnic group with little admixture and genetic studies show them most closely related to the Assyrians (also Christian, also not European). Anyways, you can stay ignorant if you want. Also, Armenian Christianity is part of the Oriental Orthodox family of Christianity which is in the same family as Coptic Egyptian and Ethiopian families.
I am half European and half West Asian
I look like and I feel closest to Caucasus and Balkan peoples. I am White, and if I was in Yerevan, Tbilisi, or Nalchik everybody would assume I’m a native
I love Armenians, my girlfriend is Armenian. The first thing she said to me is: “you look like a man of my nationality”
❤🇦🇲