Most people reacted to his question were living outside the US or non-native English speakers.
"Where are you really from"? What is wrong with this question?
I am not a native US citizen, I went to US many times, I can speak English but not as fluent as US people do because it's not my native language, obviously! I was asked by this question many times already and I found no big deal at all. (Unless it would be asked by one person repeatedly).
Well, I did not pretend to be an American citizen nor wave my accent just to blend in. I was just being myself and be natural on my speaking.
Everytime people ask me "Where are you really from?" my perception on this is 'they need to know exactly my country' well, just told them an honest answer.
To tell you, based on my experience, there are US citizens mostly teenagers who get irritated easily when non-US citizen pretend to be a native US speaking when obviously not. Especially exaggerating the blending accent of native US people, which absolutely sounding like nowhere.
With this being stated, being ourselves can greatly help under any circumstances that might lead into trouble.
However, There are exceptions the way you sensed how the question being asked. We have what we call instinct to determine what really the purpose of asking such question. Mind you, instinct cannot be proven and it's just based on one's opinion - which means not reliable. In addition to this, the question "Where are you REALLY from" the word "REALLY" can be misinterpreted as digging into your nationality. It is like to remind you of "stay where you belong", where humiliation takes place.
In my opinion, if this kind of question being asked with all the descriptive of humiliation and discrimination as I could sensed it, then I should be included in the outcry of this matter.
In conclusion, perceiving and reacting to this kind of question depends on how you interpret the way the question being asked and delivered.
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