If I have only ever had contact with my jamaican side of my family although racially i am mixed would it be better for me to just say i am black in an application?
The question is basically answered on the honor system.
If you want to be reasonably honest, you may want to ask yourself these two questions:
- Do you self-identify as black in other contexts besides checking boxes on college applications and such, or commonly participate in culturally-related activities as a member of a black ethnic group?
- Do others commonly identify you as black or of mixed ancestry including black?
The same goes for any other ancestry you may have. You may indicate more than one for this question.
Jamaican isn’t a race. What are you mixed with. Black, White, Asian etc…
If one of your 4 grandparents were black, I would check the box.
I’d put whatever race you identify as on your application.
If one of your grandparents is Black (regardless of where they’re from) you can check “Black” and then if asked where from you check Jamaica.
Thought the question was does OP need to check something besides Black, because he is mixed.
We don’t know what assumptions are behind the question, though. Is this about thinking “all Black” somehow tops mixed? Tell us more.