<p>Hi, my friend is a senior applying to college now. She was born in America but both of her parents were born in Jamaica. Will she be better off disclosing this information, or is it better to leave it off?</p>
<p>Since she would (presumably) be considered black/AA, I would put it down.</p>
<p>She should definitely put it down -- it can only help her (if she's black).</p>
<p>ILoveBrown, you mean check "Other" and elaborate?</p>
<p>Haha, here we go again.</p>
<p>No, black Jamaicans are considered "African American" in the US... so if she considers herself black, there's no reason not to check the box. She can explain her national background elsewhere in the application, if she wants, or just write it next to the "race" box (if it's a paper app).</p>
<p>Is that the societal context or the personal (ie. Jamaican American) context?</p>
<p>Have you ever met Americans with Jamaican heritage? One of them told me that she did not want to referred to as African-American. She had no problems with black; she simply felt that African-American wasn't appropriate as Jamaica is in the Carribean. The other told me that he considers himself Jamaican, not African-American.</p>
<p>In any case, Jamaicans are black. No qualms there. Some qualms with "African-American."</p>
<p>Umm, they are African American regardless fabrizio, most Jamaicans atleast. The Africans in Jamaica <em>mostly</em> came from Africa the same way and probably during the same time that the Africans in the US were forced to come to the United States from Africa. Not to mention, Jamaica is part of "America". Please correct me if I am wrong.</p>
<p>A-san, based on my limited knowledge, I agree with all statements.</p>
<p>My point was some Jamaicans don't want to be classified under the label African-American. Yes, blacks in Jamaica may have African roots, but ties to their country - a nation in the Carribbean - are stronger. But, they have no problems with black, and there's no qualms in checking race boxes.</p>
<p>I'll use another example. Chinese in Singapore do not refer to themselves as "Zhongguo Ren." That phrase means you're Chinese from the mainland or pro-KMT Chinese from Taiwan. However, Singaporean Chinese have no problems referring to themselves as "Hua Ren", another way of saying Chinese. Do they identify as Chinese? Yes. Do they identify as "Zhongguo Ren"? No.</p>
<p>Do Jamaicans identify as black? Yes. Do they identify as "African-American"? The two I've met didn't.</p>