American or Jamaican...Jamaicans born on US soil?

Question:

American or Jamaican...Jamaicans born on US soil?

If I said my parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents & ancestors were all Korean, that they immigrated to the US in 1982, and that I was the first of my family to be born in the US, everyone would say I was a Korean, Korean-American, whatever. Even if I understood Korean, but couldn't speak it--there wouldn't be much debate. Not much I said I were Irish, Sri-lankan, Russian, etc. either.

So why is it that when I say that my parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. were all born in Jamaica, that they immigrated to the US in 1982, and I was the first of my family to be born in the US, everyone tells me that they're Jamaican, but I'm not? Does the fact that my mother went into labor on US soil mean that I suddenly have to forget my family, culture, heritage and ancestry and assimilate? Would I be Japanese if she had me in Japan?

What is it about the fact that I'm black that suddenly makes the idea of my having a solid heritage questionable?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well, the easiest way is to not listen to what "they" say. Definitions are relative.. ie, citizenship is a political label, and nothing to do with your ancestry. Black is a descriptive term that has little to do with you inside as a person. And in today's world, few of us are "solid" anything. Since much of your heritage is from Jamaica, and it is what you identify with, then go for it.
Besides.. here, in genealogy, we'd be the LAST ones to tell you to forget family and heritage. We are busy seeking it out, and finding pride in whatever it is. Unless you put up an avatar of you with a real picture, we just know you as someone who (might) hang out here and have some fun with people from all around the world.