Should I apply as an African American Forum

[hyr006]

I'm a weak candidate at best for most of the top ten law schools I would like to apply to, however my chances would increase considerably as an under represented minority applicant. My grandparents on my father's side were both moroccan before they moved to Israel where they gave birth to my father. My mother and her parents were born in the US. My complexion is more fair than it is dark. Just wanted to get some opinions on the subject. Also, what would the schools require in the form of proof. Both my grandparents are deceased so I'm curious to know if I would need to supply their birth certificates or something of the nature. I was told that if you are of 1/8th african decent you would qualify as an african american applicant. Is that true. Thx.

[Hannibal]

North African = Caucasian. Probably won't get a URM boost.

[dakatz]

Moroccan is not considered African American. It is in the category of caucasian (which includes people of north african descent). So no, you would not be considered African-American.

[gwuorbust]

Moroccan is not considered African American. It is in the category of caucasian (which includes people of north african descent). So no, you would not be considered African-American.

on what basis do you make this assertion?

[dakatz]

Moroccan is not considered African American. It is in the category of caucasian (which includes people of north african descent). So no, you would not be considered African-American.

on what basis do you make this assertion?

Those are the official listed categories for purposes of classification used by LSAC. They were obviously fed up with people from Egypt, Morocco, etc from claiming to be African American. Thus it specifically states in the description of the category that those of North African descent fall into the category of caucasian. Feel free to look up the categories and check.

Edit: The actual language for the "causaian" category is "a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa"

Whereas black is defined as "a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa."

This distinction makes OP's case pretty easy to decide.

[MrKappus]

I google-imaged "famous Moroccans" and lol'd.

[gwuorbust]

Moroccan is not considered African American. It is in the category of caucasian (which includes people of north african descent). So no, you would not be considered African-American.

on what basis do you make this assertion?

Those are the official listed categories for purposes of classification used by LSAC. They were obviously fed up with people from Egypt, Morocco, etc from claiming to be African American. Thus it specifically states in the description of the category that those of North African descent fall into the category of caucasian. Feel free to look up the categories and check.

Edit: The actual language for the "causaian" category is "a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa"

Whereas black is defined as "a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa."

This distinction makes OP's case pretty easy to decide.

yep OP is def not AA. I just dislike when ppl make assertions w/o stating on what basis they are making the assertion.