<p>I was wondering if you guys could answer this question about my ethnicity/nationality for Admissions at your University:
My Parents were both born in Africa (Ethiopia and Kenya), and my mother's family goes back another 2 generations there. They were naturalized citizens and speak their natively languages etc., but now we inhabit the US (I was born in the US and they have been here for about 20-30 years). My question is that even though my parents were born and raised in Africa they both are genetically considered Indians (as am I). Would I be justified in proclaiming myself as an African American? Thank you.</p>
<p>Sorry I tried finding Columbia's email address for information but I couldn't find it on their site.</p>
<p>Hi Skeet Daddy. Columbia parent here. I think your question can be answered by looking at the actual question on the application. It is not asking for your family's geographical history, but your "ethnic or racial background." The category you are referencing is labeled "Black/African-American". Unless that is your ethnicity, I think you would be deceiving the intent of the question as it is framed.</p>
<p>Here is the admissions information phone number: 212-854-2522</p>
<p>They just said I could. They said In my position that is would be up to me to put whatever I want.</p>
<p>Wiki- "An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. This boundary may take any of a number of forms -- racial, cultural, linguistic, economic, religious, political -- and may be more or less porous. Because of this boundary, members of an ethnic group are often presumed to be culturally or biologically similar, although this is not in fact necessarily the case. "</p>
<p>Whatever they said on the phone to you, I would give this careful thought.
How would you answer this question: Is someone born and raised here whose parents were white South Africans an African American?
More to the point, assuming you are considering this because you think it will give you some advantage, you might think about the possibility that it could backfire. For example, if an interviewer or the admissions rep reading your folder is expecting an African American student and thinks you are scamming the system. </p>
<p>If your background is interesting, and/or if you are the first generation to go to college, those are legitimate things that really would be to your advantage, and that you could write about in an essay or talk about in an interview.</p>
<p>Look I'm not black but I am "African American" 100% at that. I know it's my choice but obviously I'm going to explain the situation- I am not "culturally" asian but more African- my parents speak Swahili to each other in the house at times, we eat some African Dishes, and my family has been there for liek at least 2 generations. Anyways when I called they said It would be up to me- and I know enough about my Culture to hold my ground as an african american. </p>
<p>How would you answer this question: Is someone born and raised here whose parents were white South Africans an African American?
Well if the person's parents are from African wouldn't that make them African American--- not black --- but African american.
I also asked MIT and Caltech both of which said either. ( I know caltech doesnt do AA).</p>
<p>I am definetly African American- I'm am definetly not black though.
I will see how this goes =p with the other colleges lol.</p>
<p>Well, the category is "black/African-american." Like sac says, whatever they said to you, you are not black. Why not say Other, and say Indian/African-American? What would be the reason for not doing so?</p>
<p>the slash ('/') does not mean 'and' it means 'or' so it still qualifies...you are much better off checking one of the boxes rather than filling something in....there is no quota for 'other' people.</p>
<p>African-American does not mean persons born in Africa and living in the US...generally speaking African-American refers to the millions of "blacks" who have been here from many generations and are apart of the legacy of slavery, segregation, and subjugation...i personally feel that it would be crazy for you to check off "African-American" because most likely culturally your are not and you probably dont look like you coulld be "African-Amercian" ( though we come in all colors of the rainbow....most blacks of american descent know who is apart of their group and who is not!)</p>
<p>many "blacks" put down african american when they have never set foot there and may not even be able to locate it on a map. </p>
<p>Also, what your saying is interpretation of what is meant by african-american. If they meant black they would just write "black" but they have this ambiguity for a reason.</p>
<p>The slash does not mean or. It means "this is another way of saying black." Also, they do only mean black. The difference perhaps between black and African-American is that the former refers to any persons of dark skin and distinct features while the latter refers to people living in the US for several generations. If your skin is not of a shade dark enough to be identified as black, or if one of your parents is not at least half black, then you are NOT African-American (nor are you really black for that matter). </p>
<p>If you are from Northern Africa, for example, you cannot say that you are African-American in the sense that the term is used in the US.</p>
<p>What many people do not understand is that the term is in itself without meaning.</p>
<p>The problem then being that people who actually relate to African culture but are not dark-skinned do not in truth get to refer to themselves as what they are: African-American. While the most American of people are called such.</p>
<p>The term "Caucasian" introduces similar problems, but as it is not controversial, and could not present itself as an advantage, I assume nobody cares.</p>
<p>in this country being black has more to do with presence one of any detectable African blood flowing through ones veins than with ones skin color</p>
<p>By the way my skin is definetly dark enough to make me some form of "Black". But my face looks more Indian than Black- so the color arguement doesn't exactly follow. (I'm as black as usher =p.)</p>
<p>being "black" in the US has nothing to do with skin color!!!!.....the amount of mixing that has produced a wide variety of shades and colors among african-americans</p>
<p>Listen -- you don't need proof to claim that you are "African-American" -- if you see yourself as part of this group, then say that you are. It's only honest.</p>