Do Arabs from North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt) classify as:
African-American
or…
White/Caucasian
or…
Other
I’m very curious as to what you folk thing on this issue.
<p>I always wondered that... if I were one, I'd put down that I was african-american, b/c technically I would be.</p>
<p>I think they mean the color???</p>
<p>They aren't African-American, which means people who are US born and of black African ancestry.</p>
<p>I think that Arabs are classified as white. Their ethnicity would be "Arab." If one wants to highlight that one is Arab, one could check "other" and explain that you are Arab.</p>
<p>African-American does not imply black African ancestry...note the distinction between black american and african american</p>
<p>I would use one qualification: do you consider yourself african-american? If yes, check that box, if not, check the other box and write arab.</p>
<p>Census definition: "Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "Black, African Am., or Negro," or provide written entries such as African American, Afro American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian." <a href="http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68176.htm%5B/url%5D">http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68176.htm</a></p>
<p>African-American = black??? This is a first for me. I understand the argument though. I wonder if being an arab is advantageous in the college application process?</p>
<p>Before I even filled out any apps, I always joked with my friends and family that i was african american. But i am a dual citizen of america and egypt, and have parents from both. However, as much as i really wanted to check african american, i checked caucasion AND other and put "egyptian american." most apps say to check as many that apply.</p>
<p>by the way, i hope it is an advantage :) (probably not though).</p>
<p>it says caucasian includes middle east. Being Turkish i checked caucasian, but egypt isn't really considered middle east so i'd go with other.</p>
<p>my friend who is originally from Morocco checked African American last year when applying to colleges and got into trouble w/ the college counselor bc shes never considered herself to be african american, meaning if she saw a bunch of black kids she wouldnt be like 'hey im african american too!' okay so thats a bad exaple but what i mean is that she didn't put herself into the same box as them. they made her check caucasian and then put of african descent. and she still got into her top choice so no worries there.</p>
<p>i guess it depends, cause im from sudan, my dad's family is very gulfish, and moms is very north african' ish. so i put other, it made me uncomfortable to indicated being black/afican american. since AA is supposed to help Black americans whose ancesotors were slaves.</p>
<p>If you feel uncomfortable just leave the ethnicity box blank. You might still get some special hook because you are from the Sudan and an international student.</p>
<p>im a permanent resident of the US, but still a citizen of sudan, is that still a hook?</p>
<p>update: the term african amercan on applications is referring to race, not geographical location. so that would mean that a north african would fall under the caucasian category. all of us got confused by their euphemism for 'black' lol.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>African-American does not imply black African ancestry...<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Of course it does. If it didn't, Americans of white South African descent (e.g. Charlize Theron) would be "African Americans", which they ain't.</p>
<p>It depends on what you are comfortable with. If you've never considered yourself "African"-American, or even black for that matter, then mark off other.
If you consider yourself "African"-American and black, then check off African-American.
Don't let your decision be based on the color of your skin. I'm Haitian-American. I know people who are mulatto-"white"- and are Haitians. They consider themselves Haitians and see themselves as Black.</p>
<p>I believe African-American only applies to blacks who descended from black slaves. "American" blacks, hence the "-American" in the name. I was one of those who would argue that white South Africans could write down they were African-American until I realized that African-American is different from African.</p>
<p>i had just put other and typed "egyptian" in the box since i had no idea if i shoudl write "middle eastern" or "arab", and i wanted to be as acurate as possible. wsa that ok or am i gonna hear "u shoulda wrote arab" or something else? my guidance counselor said to write "near easterN" but have NEVEr heard of the "near east" lol. thanks.</p>