Can a North African technically qualify as African American? Forum

[whymeohgodno]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

No boost for you

Even if you lived in Africa most of your life etc etc?

[romothesavior]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

No boost for you

Even if you lived in Africa most of your life etc etc?

They can't showcase your "diversity" with a picture in the brochure, so no. No boost.

[whymeohgodno]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

No boost for you

Even if you lived in Africa most of your life etc etc?

They can't showcase your "diversity" with a picture in the brochure, so no. No boost.

What if you are one of those really rare cases where you have two black/african american parents but were born white. I read about this happening somewhere in England (they did a DNA test also).

[Leira7905]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

I think this ones debatable... Doesn't the question ask which ethnicity(s) you most closely identify with? If you've been raised by black people, then you may identify more with black people than with white people (and vice versa). The question doesn't ask what color your skin is.

[powerlawyer06]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should not put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

[yngblkgifted]

Can a North African technically qualify as African American?

Hell no.

[romothesavior]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should no put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

If my great-great-great grandmother were African American, you can bet the house that I'd be checking that box all the way to HYS.

[dakatz]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should no put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

Point well taken, but not the case here. OP says he is North African. North Africans are explicitly placed within the category of "Caucasian" pursuant to official Department of Education classifications utilized by LSAC. Therefore, OP checks Caucasian. Simple as can be. All debate aside, let it at least be acknowledged that OP's question has been answered.

[Leira7905]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should not put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

My grandfather was black (from Jamaica). My father's family (father, aunt, uncles, etc.) are mixed. Some of them look obviously mixed, some don't. I consider myself mixed race, though I basically look like a tan white person with dark eyes, and dark curlyish hair. I check more than one box. Are you annoyed by me?

[albusdumbledore]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should not put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

Dude 1/16th NA is a lot. That gets you carded.

[splitmuch]

What about South African whites?

[kapachino]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

I think this ones debatable... Doesn't the question ask which ethnicity(s) you most closely identify with? If you've been raised by black people, then you may identify more with black people than with white people (and vice versa). The question doesn't ask what color your skin is.

No, this isn't insulting at all. :/ It asks for the applicant's race, not the race of the adoptive family. No boost.

[powerlawyer06]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should not put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

My grandfather was black (from Jamaica). My father's family (father, aunt, uncles, etc.) are mixed. Some of them look obviously mixed, some don't. I consider myself mixed race, though I basically look like a tan white person with dark eyes, and dark curlyish hair. I check more than one box. Are you annoyed by me?

Only if you are marking something with which you don't personally identify. I understand your multiple check marks, I am half mexican and half Native American. I mark both. But for example I wouldn't mark NA if I hadn't been involved with the culture and traditions as a child. Through that experience and the fact that I volunteer with my tribe now I think I can uniquely identify with my Native American side. I don't really look native american necessarily, people definitely recognize me more as latin/mexican but since I have been involved with my tribe most of my life I feel okay about marking it.

[kapachino]

What about South African whites?

They're white. No boost.

[kapachino]

Once again, the official DOE definitions utilized by LSAC

"Black/African-American - A person having origins in any of the BLACK racial groups of Africa."

"Caucasian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or NORTH AFRICA."

[romothesavior]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

I think this ones debatable... Doesn't the question ask which ethnicity(s) you most closely identify with? If you've been raised by black people, then you may identify more with black people than with white people (and vice versa). The question doesn't ask what color your skin is.

No, this isn't insulting at all. :/ It asks for the applicant's race, not the race of the adoptive family. No boost.

You seem awfully protective of your boost.

[kapachino]

If you don't identify with the culture and you haven't had to deal with cultural stigma because you don't appear to be of this minority group then you should not put it down. I get very annoyed when people say they are 1/16th NA or 1/32nd AA and ask if they are a URM. If you have to ask then you are not.

Dude 1/16th NA is a lot. That gets you carded.

Only if you can prove it. I'm 1/8th Creek, but can't get a card.

[powerlawyer06]

What about South African whites?

The people whose parents and grandparents instituted apartheid?

NO BOOST

[albusdumbledore]

Once again, the official DOE definitions utilized by LSAC

"Black/African-American - A person having origins in any of the BLACK racial groups of Africa."

"Caucasian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or NORTH AFRICA."

How far back are we counting here? Because I thought everyone came out of Africa.

[kapachino]

What about South African whites?

The people whose parents and grandparents instituted apartheid?

NO BOOST

I didn't want to say it.

[kapachino]

Once again, the official DOE definitions utilized by LSAC

"Black/African-American - A person having origins in any of the BLACK racial groups of Africa."

"Caucasian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or NORTH AFRICA."

How far back are we counting here? Because I thought everyone came out of Africa.

I know this is a bullshit post, but, the last sixty years at least. You can't get admitted based on your 1/100000000th blackness. Secondly, the "Out Of Africa theory is debatable.

[splitmuch]

What about South African whites?

The people whose parents and grandparents instituted apartheid?

NO BOOST

lolz at taking this seriously. Really people?

[whymeohgodno]

NO BOOST has meme potential.

[kapachino]

What if you were adopted into an African American family when you were just an infant but you aren't actually black?

I think this ones debatable... Doesn't the question ask which ethnicity(s) you most closely identify with? If you've been raised by black people, then you may identify more with black people than with white people (and vice versa). The question doesn't ask what color your skin is.

No, this isn't insulting at all. :/ It asks for the applicant's race, not the race of the adoptive family. No boost.

You seem awfully protective of your boost.

Given my interest in the history of blacks and Native Americans in this country, I am. My ancestors were seriously fucked over, so anytime someone with white privilege and no connection to anything remotely black or Native tries to use it to their advantage, I get pissed.

[powerlawyer06]

Given my interest in the history of blacks and Native Americans in this country, I am. My ancestors were seriously fucked over, so anytime someone with white privilege and no connection to anything remotely black or Native tries to use it to their advantage, I get pissed.

+1