How do people of color feel about Elizabeth Warren’s heritage claims?

After Elizabeth Warren’s campaign stop in Seattle, Dori had a question for those of his listeners who are people of color.

The reason there has ever been affirmative action is because people discriminate against minorities for their skin color. White privilege means that a person like Elizabeth Warren, who is Caucasian, enjoys all the benefits of being white. Elizabeth Warren doesn’t need a hand-up because she has all the advantages of being white. And then she, to get a better job, lied about being Native American. She wrote ‘American Indian’ on one of her job applications. She wanted the benefit of being white in America, and yet she also wanted the benefit of being labeled a minority.

Nobody ever has judged Elizabeth Warren when she walked into a room because of her skin color. If you are African American, Native American, or Hispanic, and people have judged you for your color when you walked into a room, do you think Elizabeth Warren is going to have trouble getting the minority vote?

Dori received quite a few responses over text and email. Here is a sampling:

Lynnwood business owner uses 10-percent minority status to gain benefits

Being an African American woman, it absolutely upsets me. The resources that are reserved for students of color are for bridging the gap between the privileged and not-so-privileged. And she is privileged! Shame on her! – The 206

I’m half Indian (from India) and half Hispanic, born in the Philippines. I’ve never claimed any benefit from being brown or Asian. It does frost me to see someone claiming to be Native American fraudulently. She’s the whitest person I’ve ever seen. – The 206

Being half Makah Indian, that chaps my hide when white people claim to be part Native. And why is it always an Indian princess and never just a regular Native American? – The 206

I’m black, and it doesn’t sit well with me. If she is willing to lie about her own race and heritage, then imagine what else she is willing to lie about. – The 253

Hey Dori, on the Elizabeth Warren story, I’m half Spanish Mexican and half Eastern European, and I don’t walk around spouting about how Mexican I am. I don’t act like what I’m not; I was not raised with Hispanic heritage, I was not raised in that environment, so for all intents and purposes, I’m white. Even more than that, I’m American. – The 425

Hi Dori, as a person of color, I could care less how Elizabeth Warren characterized herself to gain an advantage. There are many cheaters in the United States of America. I would not vote for her for many reasons, but this is furthest from my mind. How come no one talks about how the Trump family discriminated against blacks back in the day for housing? That is more offensive to me. – D. via email

What do you think of Elizabeth Warren’s claims? Leave your comments below.

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from 12-3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.