It has been a difficult decision to choose which box I should be checking in terms of race on my applications. My mom is from Eastern European descent, so she has very fair skin. On the other hand, my dad is from North African descent. His mom is from Algeria and his dad is from Morocco. I do not know where this leaves me. His skin is somewhat dark, but when you see him you would not think of him as “black”. I have the same skin tone as him. He is a 100% Jewish so I don’t know if it would be fair to call him an “African-American”, but his family was in North Africa for a few generations and he grew up in France. Would it be acceptable to put “African-American” on my applications? I do come from African descent…or is this too much of a stretch?
No, you’re not AA.
If you identify, truly, as African American put it down/ If you’re looking to be a URM-then no. JMHO
Calling it a stretch is beyond the pale; it is simply inaccurate. You are not AA.
Ummmm, no. AA is not like latino. Latino is an ethnicity; AA is a race. One can identify with an ethnicity, but for race, one is either black, white, yellow, or some swirl of those 3. There is no identifying with race (in this context).
@clubtimecollege: Although I find the classifications themselves repugnant, you are clearly “white” according to the OMB criteria used by the colleges for reporting: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/information_and_regulatory_affairs/re_app-a-update.pdf
Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” or “Negro” can be used in addition to “Black or African American.”
White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
This is kind of like my son who has American Indian bloodline, BUT not enough to register with a tribe, hence, unfortunately not able to claim “Native American”. Sounds like you are in a similar situation.
Ticking the African American box goes beyond just admission. Once enrolled, u will probably be on the distribution list for events, programs, clubs dedicated to African American students.
If u feel confident participating in these events, programs, clubs with the other African American students, then go for it. If u think other African American students will despise u for being sn opportunistic faker, then don’t.
My mother is from the United States. My dad is from South Africa, as is 2 generations of his family. Both are white.
On the common app I selected white as my race and when it asked me to specify white from where I put South Africa, Europe. I have been accepted to multiple schools so far and none of them have questioned this selection.
Do not say you’re African American unless you are black. As harsh as it seems, there’s a reason for them asking about race. You obviously have not faced the discrimination we blacks face everyday. Also, i’ve heard of someone being expelled for taking that path; i’m sure it’s because it puts “real” blacks at a disadvantage. Don’t be that guy.
The simple test for this: if you have to ask, the answer is no.
We know a kid who is black and Chinese but looks Asian. Completely Asian. Haven’t met his pop, but he is from Africa. No one would classify this kid as black. Yet he checks that box and has been classified as such. I have to wonder if his interviewers were surprised when they met him.
I an black and I know black people who are black but do not look black; still, they identify themselves as African-American. Clearly, you don’t have to look black to be black, but a black person would never have to ask if they are black.
Do it at your own discretion
By the definition above you do have origins in Africa but not in the black racial groups of Africa. That makes it pretty clear.
Right, this is a no for you. You are not black African racially. It doesn’t matter North Africa as those countries are not what is meant as black racially, they don’t mean what country you are from, just like white south africans would not check the box. Arabic people from N. Africa don’t check it either, it doesn’t matter what their skin looks like, and I’m sure Jewish ones don’t’ either. The question isn’t ‘are you from the continent of Africa’, but asking if you are from a black racial group. No you are not. This would be pulling one over.
I have no opinion as to whether you are or not. That is entirely your decision although it does violate the spirit of the category
I do know of people who were born in Argentina who call themselves Hispanic but really are not
If there is so much room for ambiguity that you have to do a search to find the answer to a pretty basic question then the category needs to be clarified. If it is that important then the OMB criteria should be included on the forms, or be something you can readily click on for an explanation
@SaphireNY How, exactly, can someone have been born in Argentina and not be Hispanic?
Father was assigned to work in Argentina for some years. Parents are Europeon non Spanish
@SaphireNY But Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race. You can be white and Hispanic if you speak Spanish and were born in a Latin American country.
@dsi411 You’re getting ethnicity and nationality confused. Just because you’re born somewhere doesn’t mean that’s your ethnicity. I was born in America, but “American” isn’t my ethnicity because my parents are African.