In response to the question is it racist? Please consider the...

In response to the question is it racist? Please consider the following.

"Where are you from?" implies that you are not from here and you will never be from here.

If you are curious about someone's background here are some polite ground rules to consider before "making conversation."

1. Why are you interested?
2. What is the context?
3. Why is it any of your business?
4. Are you doing it to classify the person to fit into your view of the world?
5. Do you think the person might be sick of having to explain their existence to every stranger who feels they have the privilege to know your history.
6. Europeans have always had an obsession to classify race - just look at the history of eugenics and racial "science".
7. Asking "Are you half?" or are you a hybrid is the worst.

Lots more to cover but I can't be bothered as the replies so far are an echo chamber.

If you have to ask, a better phrasing is "What is your cultural background?" Even this is dubious depending on who is asking who.

Bottom line. If you don't know, you aren't a friend yet and it's none of your business.