I'm half arab/ black Forum

[Matthew_V]

Im middle-eastern/black. I was born in Oman. I do "look" arab. Although my father is black and very much looks black, he doesn't claim that part of his racial make-up at all and he would never claim to be of african decient. Its a taboo issue, little complicated, but it is what is...my question: although i clearly am URM, if i marked african american, wouldnt raise some issues with the Bar since i was born in a middle eastern country? How would they go about finding out? It should be noted that i also classified my race as AA on my college application.

[Kohinoor]

Im middle-eastern/black. I was born in Oman and have nappy/course hair, althouh it's receeding so it may be hard to tell and i have medium skin tone. Although my father is black and very much looks black, he doesn't claim that part of his racial make-up at all and he would never claim to be of african decient at all. Its a taboo issue, little complicated, but it is what is...my question: although i clearly am URM, if i marked african american, wouldnt raise some issues with the Bar since i was born in a middle eastern country? How would they go about finding out? It should be noted that i also classified my race as AA on my college application.

You're black.

[cinephile]

Why not write a diversity statement where you can further clarify where you're coming from and what your racial identification means to you?

[LLB2JD]

Im middle-eastern/black. I was born in Oman and have nappy/course hair, althouh it's receeding so it may be hard to tell and i have medium skin tone. Although my father is black and very much looks black, he doesn't claim that part of his racial make-up at all and he would never claim to be of african decient at all. Its a taboo issue, little complicated, but it is what is...my question: although i clearly am URM, if i marked african american, wouldnt raise some issues with the Bar since i was born in a middle eastern country? How would they go about finding out? It should be noted that i also classified my race as AA on my college application.

You're black.

[gothamm]

run with it my friend

[dkt4]

if you want the boost, take it. if you want to reflect how you feel about your own race, probably write either a PS or diversity statement that reflects that.

on the one hand, i think its important to be honest with yourself but on the other hand it seems silly to leave a potential app bonus on the table. very mixed feelings about this, good luck either way.

[predent/prelaw]

Im middle-eastern/black. I was born in Oman. I do "look" arab. Although my father is black and very much looks black, he doesn't claim that part of his racial make-up at all and he would never claim to be of african decient. Its a taboo issue, little complicated, but it is what is...my question: although i clearly am URM, if i marked african american, wouldnt raise some issues with the Bar since i was born in a middle eastern country? How would they go about finding out? It should be noted that i also classified my race as AA on my college application.

va

[mez06]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

[predent/prelaw]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

gi

[LLB2JD]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

Lulz

[mez06]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

Wow. I hope you try to edit this post before I respond. Did you really just state that NO other continent in the world produces people of dark skin complexion? And FYI, "black" people come in many shades, its not a prerequisite to be pitch black. As in many Africans have the same skin complexion as Aborigines in Australia, mexicans, middle-eastern persons, etc.

Secondly, the U.S. educational system is geared towards eliminating the inequities of black people with African descent in AMERICA! The societal/systematic discrimination, prejudices, and horrors that the system attempts to set correct are done so for those whose parents/families were directly affected by society's laws during the slavery and civil rights area. NOT for random persons who were raised in the Middle East or even Africa.

OP is NOT African-American. Simply an opportunist. One with little personal integrity at that.

[geoduck]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

Lolwhut. So black isn't a race anymore? What about all the mocha colored African Americans? Are they not black? Do we have to use a color-wheel to find out if you qualify for Affirmative Action?

Edit: Your follow-up post clarified what you meant in your initial post. Still not sure that I agree with you, but it isn't as ridiculous as what it initially sounded like.

OP, just do what I did regarding my Mexican heritage. I'm a quarter Mexican and look something between German and Spanish and am not particularly dark given how little sun we get in the Pacific NW. I filled out Caucasian and Hispanic/Mexican on everything that asked... and never mentioned it outright unless asked, which only Georgetown did. I wrote a diversity statement for them about growing up as a light skinned Mexican is a very white area.

So for you, mark down arabic and african/black wherever appropriate. If you want to push it, include something about your heritage in your personal statement. If not, just write a diversity statement for the few places that ask. That way you are being honest about your heritage and allowing the adcomms to take it however they like.

[blacklawboss]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

Wow. I hope you try to edit this post before I respond. Did you really just state that NO other continent in the world produces people of dark skin complexion? And FYI, "black" people come in many shades, its not a prerequisite to be pitch black. As in many Africans have the same skin complexion as Aborigines in Australia, mexicans, middle-eastern persons, etc.

Secondly, the U.S. educational system is geared towards eliminating the inequities of black people with African descent in AMERICA! The societal/systematic discrimination, prejudices, and horrors that the system attempts to set correct are done so for those whose parents/families were directly affected by society's laws during the slavery and civil rights area. NOT for random persons who were raised in the Middle East or even Africa.

OP is NOT African-American. Simply an opportunist. One with little personal integrity at that.

FTMFW!!!

[JDeterminedF]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

Wow. I hope you try to edit this post before I respond. Did you really just state that NO other continent in the world produces people of dark skin complexion? And FYI, "black" people come in many shades, its not a prerequisite to be pitch black. As in many Africans have the same skin complexion as Aborigines in Australia, mexicans, middle-eastern persons, etc.

Secondly, the U.S. educational system is geared towards eliminating the inequities of black people with African descent in AMERICA! The societal/systematic discrimination, prejudices, and horrors that the system attempts to set correct are done so for those whose parents/families were directly affected by society's laws during the slavery and civil rights area. NOT for random persons who were raised in the Middle East or even Africa.

OP is NOT African-American. Simply an opportunist. One with little personal integrity at that.

If the OP is naturalized, its kinda tough to say that he isn't African American. (Of African descent and an American citizen).

[predent/prelaw]

na

[99.9luft]

OP, you are not AA, but you can and should use the 'black card'! Best of luck!

[blacklawboss]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

Wow. I hope you try to edit this post before I respond. Did you really just state that NO other continent in the world produces people of dark skin complexion? And FYI, "black" people come in many shades, its not a prerequisite to be pitch black. As in many Africans have the same skin complexion as Aborigines in Australia, mexicans, middle-eastern persons, etc.

Secondly, the U.S. educational system is geared towards eliminating the inequities of black people with African descent in AMERICA! The societal/systematic discrimination, prejudices, and horrors that the system attempts to set correct are done so for those whose parents/families were directly affected by society's laws during the slavery and civil rights area. NOT for random persons who were raised in the Middle East or even Africa.

OP is NOT African-American. Simply an opportunist. One with little personal integrity at that.

If his father is Black Black with Black Features ..... Then he is of African decent and just because his fathers ancestors were caged up on some other ship than the Amistad and traded in the middle east or Europe does not mean he did not suffer the same dam* discrimination as an American Slave decedent which I might add was probably traded in the Caribbean first. Also so what you are saying is the slave families who fled to America from Jamaica because of its work to death practices they used while harvesting sugar cane are not African Americans?

I'm the least hateful person on TLS but Predent/Prelaw I shudder to think your "IGNANT BEHIND" thats right in quotes might someday become a lawyer. Do you know what African American consists of? Heritage? Geographically? It's not a race its belonging to a set of two hyphenated countries that we never chose or adopted the same way we never chose negro or colored! To be of african descent doe's not make you "African American" Someone's plight in in the continent of Africa is not related to AA plight in USA. check the Nigerians who come via the UK and fill Medical schools and engineering schools. do you think they need a urm bump??? were their ancestors put in cages no! they have the same culture not as they had 2000 years ago. Check your facts please,.... THATS A LAWYERS JOB!

[predent/prelaw]

pe

[blacklawboss]

Quote Predent/prelaw

Ok first off I grew up flamboyantly gay in the dirt pour south so "AA" girls where my only friends and the only people stood up for me in highschool. I love black people. I disagree if someone came to the town I grew up in let them be from mars or America and they had black skin they were discriminated against.... Teachers treated them differently.... They would never get jobs in fancy restaurants besides the kitchen etc. So I don't know what town you come from that discriminators/racist/bigots ask for origin but where I come from they only saw you for the color of your skin.

Did I call you racist??? I called you "IGNANT" for that comment. And please don't try to compare being gay to being African American its a slap and the face. What effects African Americans in America is centuries of inequality and oppression so the "lil" URM bump is to try to level the playing field in the US. Even a Canadian Black man doesn't deserve the same URM bump as an AA. So color has little to do with why minorities in America get a little extra.
The Op asked a question and he got an answer no one is attacking him over here. His father never claimed his heritage he wasn't raised as a Black Man in America so he isn't due the benefits of a few points shaved on the Lsat and gpa

[predent/prelaw]

nis

[blacklawboss]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

And this further makes my point you think all people from Africa were slaves. SMDH Foolish mortal

[geoduck]

Black is a color, not a race. So at that, you are not African-American. You're clearly just an opportunist that all of a sudden wants to claim a heritage that you nor your father have cared about for most of your existence. Have a bit of dignity and try not to drag on the coat-tails of a people who've endured as you've had no recognizable connection to such a plight.

No.

His father is from Africa!!! Slaves were traded all over the world not only to America! This is ridiculous no other continent in the world put out African/Black people than Africa.

And this further makes my point you think all people from Africa were slaves. SMDH Foolish mortal

The hell?

[dkt4]

this has turned into a ridiculous discussion of what differentiates AA and black...the inevitable conclusion is that race/ethnicity is socially constructed and this is all pointless.

yay?

edit to add...

affirmative action type bumps for "african americans" were originally designed to help former slaves in the USA (and their descendants) recuperate from centuries of disenfranchisement, exploitation, racism, political inequity, and slavery. the negative effects of US racial inequalities can and do effect black people from backgrounds that do not fall into that category, and subsequently those people often choose to take advantage of the 'bump' that was originally not intended for them, though that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to take advantage of it.

the hope, in general, was to uplift black american slavery descendants...and whether rightly or wrongly the influx of immigrants from Africa/Carribbean/South America who are "Black" has watered down the success of those attempts. however, you could easily and fairly make the argument that black persons from south america and the carribbean had very similar racial experiences to black american slavery descendants and thus should be able to take advantage of those same bumps. you could similarly make the argument that african immigrants and their descendants have been disadvantaged to an equal, greater, or similar extent and should also benefit.


/wasteoftime

[JDeterminedF]

I'm the least hateful person on TLS but Predent/Prelaw I shudder to think your "IGNANT BEHIND" thats right in quotes might someday become a lawyer. Do you know what African American consists of? Heritage? Geographically? It's not a race its belonging to a set of two hyphenated countries that we never chose or adopted the same way we never chose negro or colored! To be of african descent doe's not make you "African American" Someone's plight in in the continent of Africa is not related to AA plight in USA. check the Nigerians who come via the UK and fill Medical schools and engineering schools. do you think they need a urm bump??? were their ancestors put in cages no! they have the same culture not as they had 2000 years ago. Check your facts please,.... THATS A LAWYERS JOB!

This is incorrect. The affects of slavery and discrimination were not confined to America or this continent. Don’t be so certain a Nigerian today would have the same culture as 2000 years ago since all of Africa was colonized and exploited by European powers; some parts as late as the 1990’s. So whether an African was caged and sent the Western Hemisphere or whether he/she was stuck on the African continent, the struggle against racist ideology is something that has affected all people of African heritage.

As far as the OP, like I said. You are black. The option on an app is going to say Black/African American. If you’re a naturalized citizen, you’re an African American as well.

[blacklawboss]

I'm the least hateful person on TLS but Predent/Prelaw I shudder to think your "IGNANT BEHIND" thats right in quotes might someday become a lawyer. Do you know what African American consists of? Heritage? Geographically? It's not a race its belonging to a set of two hyphenated countries that we never chose or adopted the same way we never chose negro or colored! To be of african descent doe's not make you "African American" Someone's plight in in the continent of Africa is not related to AA plight in USA. check the Nigerians who come via the UK and fill Medical schools and engineering schools. do you think they need a urm bump??? were their ancestors put in cages no! they have the same culture not as they had 2000 years ago. Check your facts please,.... THATS A LAWYERS JOB!

This is incorrect. The affects of slavery and discrimination were not confined to America or this continent. Don’t be so certain a Nigerian today would have the same culture as 2000 years ago since all of Africa was colonized and exploited by European powers; some parts as late as the 1990’s. So whether an African was caged and sent the Western Hemisphere or whether he/she was stuck on the African continent, the struggle against racist ideology is something that has affected all people of African heritage.

As far as the OP, like I said. You are black. The option on an app is going to say Black/African American. If you’re a naturalized citizen, you’re an African American as well.

I'm done with this dying thread. Sorry guys the Boss has left the building