<p>i am east african and i’ve lived in the U.S. for 6 years. I am not yet a citizen. Does that mean that I’m not african american? if not, then what am i?</p>
<p>You should mark African American.</p>
<p>African American only refers to your skin color…
The Common App ethnicity box is labelled “African American, African, Black” btw.</p>
<p>I agree with the above posters, plus…you are a Permanent Resident (I think, right?) with citizenship from your East African country, and that info will be on your app as well. Even if it doesn’t seem to allow for this (and it will, but anyway) there is always an “Other” blank that has a fill-in for whatever “Other” might be.</p>
<p>If you are a permanent resident then you can say that you’re a permanent resident alien or something and put in your alien registration number.</p>