I can almost believe that a student could confuse the issue, but I just shake my head that a parent does not understand that AA means black. You can be sure that AO’s are not going to debate semantics with the applicant. You can say all you want (but not on this thread) that race should play no part in admissions, but at least for the foreseeable future, it is what it is.
Since you’re so free with your advice, I do hope that you will be around when the OP asks what he should do when his acceptance is rescinded for lying (let’s call it what it is) on his application.