I have seen african americans and blacks scoring low on SAT, but I heard that African immigrants score high on it and won’t get a higher chance. I know it sounds stupid, but what does it mean to be an african american? Is it your race? Is it your family originality?
<p>I am not here to get into a big debate over AA whether it is right, wrong, whatever but to simply answer the question.</p>
<p>The Civil Rights Act of 1964 provided the legal framework for affirmative action in education which are the back bone of AA as we presently know it. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was interpreted by the Department of Education to require schools and colleges to take affirmative action to overcome the effects of past discrimination and to encourage voluntary affirmative action to attain a diverse student body. At that time under AA was orginally intended to support African Americans (american blacks) because this was the group at the time which was one of the groups being discriminated against and wasn't getting the opportunity that american whites were getting. </p>
<p>It has been adressed in the past few years that AA was not benefitting american blacks because the majority of black students checking the AA box and on campus are immigrants of african and carribean descent. So if it were come to a boost between 2 similiary qualified candidates one being of african or carribean descent and one having roots in the south, the "american black" would get the tip factor. I would not be suprised to find in the future that there would be a place where you african americans would have to list where they are descendents of .</p>
<p>Sybbie -</p>
<p>Why should Carribean blacks be in a different category from African Americans? They too are the descendants of slaves and presumably suffered the same ill effects.</p>
<p>Are these African immigrants US citizens? It's usually more difficult to get accepted as an international student, regardless of race.</p>
<p>why is there always somebody trying to attack black ppl just because these schools are admitting qualified black students and they're not getting in or they feel that their "spot" is being taken???</p>
<p>Amen.</p>
<p>(10 characters)</p>
<p>Maybe they feel threatened, because the exact opposite is happening in the NBA, NFL, etc. lol! :)</p>
<p>Thank you, King, I am so tired of disgruntled anti-AA ppl on these boards trying someway to justify their rejection with the some decrepit, false notion that some underachieving black person took their spot. Dont you guys understand how disrepectful, LET'S NOT FORGET INSULTING that is to us, to have to constantly be told by the socially disgruntled that we and unworthy of attending america's top colleges, cause I am here to say that all of us have worked HARD AND JUST AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER APPLICANT for ours, I know I have.</p>
<p>That is my fifty cents</p>
<p>BTW African-American by common day standards in the college admission game refers to any AMerican whose decendents were from SUB-SAHARA AFRICA, and of the NEGROID persuasion, so please dont come with they lame example that what if the person is Caucasian and from Africa, because that only makes the person African/African American by nationality and NOT by racial makeup</p>
<p>My parents and I were born in Canada, and our ancestors were from Africa (Liberia). But, then I went to US for 7 years. How does this define me? What box should I check? I am a permanent resident- we are trying to attain US citizenship.</p>
<p>Frankly, I think affirmative action is more insulting to African Americans. It's telling them (and the rest of society) that they need an extra boost in college admissions because otherwise they won't be able to get in.</p>
<p>I'd check "other," and explain that you're a black Canadian. You're not "African American" since you're not a U.S. citizen.</p>
<p>I think the term "African American" is misleading. Africa is a continent, not a race. Is there a European American box, or do we just check "white"? Even the term "Caucasian" is vague and can define anything from skin and hair characteristics to people from the Caucasus region (the Russian and Armenian land areas).</p>
<p>Frankly, I am sort of offended that so many groups have very specific identifications for colleges, but all of the "white" people are lumped into one vague and generic group. We are proud of our ancestries too! Note the ethnic groups listed on the Common Application:
African American, Black
Native American, Alaska Native (tribal affilitaion)
Asian American (countries of family's origin)
Asian, including Indian Subcontinent (countries)
Hispanic, Latino (countries)
Mexican American, Chicano
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander
Puerto Rican
White or Caucasian
Other (specify)</p>
<p>I don't want to debate AA, nor do I want to offend any groups. I merely wish to point out that "white" people from all over the globe, from Canada to USA to Europe to Northern Africa to Australia and others, are lumped into one homogenous category. But we are proud of our ancestries, too!</p>
<p>Do I fit "African American, Black" because I am black as well?</p>
<p>if i were you wow, i would do what northstarmom says. what about international and permanent resistents- will they get a boost or get hurt?</p>
<p>If a college needs more diversity in terms of international students, being international can be a boost. This particularly seems to be a plus at places that are in isolated areas or are in cities that are not in areas that well known outside of the US. Examples include Midwestern cities (with the exclusion of Chicago).</p>
<p>If you are international and need financial aid, before applying, make sure that the college offers aid to internationals. Many colleges do not or have very limited aid.</p>
<p>"Why should Carribean blacks be in a different category from African Americans? They too are the descendants of slaves and presumably suffered the same ill effects."</p>
<p>They faced less legal discrimination after slavery ended. In the US, blacks were prohibited from entering certain professions (even as late as after WW II, blacks could not get into some trade unions for highly paid trades), buying property in certain areas (thus had less to pass on to their kids), or attending many colleges and high schools as late as the 1960s. </p>
<p>Princeton, for example, excluded blacks until about 1945. Davidson did the same until the 1960s.</p>
<p>Affirmative Action was designed to make reparation to American blacks for the discrimination that had hurt them in the US. While other blacks may have faced discrimination in their countries, it would be up to their own countries to make reparation for those difficulties.</p>
<p>will being black canadian help me in college admission?</p>
<p>Wow,
If you are applying to places that have a hard time attracting black or international applicants, being a black Canadian might tip you in assuming that your stats are within the college's range. It's not likely to tip you in at Princeton where your stats are far outside of the college's range.</p>
<p>Is Princeton trying to attract international or black applicants? Is the average SAT of black international higher or lower than african american's?</p>
<p>I shouldn't create this post-it's too controversial- I am scared that it might turn into AA debate.</p>