<p>so. I'm an Egyptian American. which makes me North African.
does this mean I am eligible for African American scholarships?
because I'm not black.
I usually just check "other" when forms ask about my ethnicity, so...
is African American just the politically correct term for 'black' to colleges?
some people tell me I don't really count, and others say that I should be able to apply.
I really want to know</p>
<p>Being Egyptian American is not the same as being African American. You are middle eastern. Just check “other”</p>
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<p>You are correct.</p>
<p>You are absolutely NOT an African American. </p>
<p>RE: African American as “politically correct”? That is a loaded question and tomofboston’s response was not terribly helpful. “African American” is now the designation that persons FORMERLY described as “Negro” or “Black” have determined FOR THEMSELVES to be the appropriate designation for themselves. Persons formerly LABLED by other terms by other people, have CHOSEN African American as the preferred group designation. Forms reflect the designational preference of the group being identified. I wouldn’t call it “PC,” I would call it respectful and appropriate. The term also serves to distinguish Americans of African descent from persons who could be labled “black” but who happen NOT to be American-born. Historically this terminological switch was made A LONG TIME AGO, so…huh?</p>
<p>You are not AA. You’re probably White.</p>
<p>The designation AA can be confusing because there are black applicants to universities that aren’t Americans, so they’re not AA.</p>
<p>*African American" is now the designation that persons FORMERLY described as “Negro” or “Black” have determined FOR THEMSELVES to be the appropriate designation for themselves. *</p>
<p>I don’t know if that’s really true. Was there a vote?</p>
<p>Yes, there was a vote taken in 1987, lol! It made all the news outlets!</p>
<p>Seriously, speaking as a member of this group, it IS now the preferred, more formal designation. People of my parent’s generation found it a mouthful, but they adjusted. In the larger culture over time it has become the accepted designation, in large part because people now called African Americans prefer that this designation be used in institutional and in public discourse. It is not the only acceptable, informal designation, but it predominates in institutional and public discourse because it is preferred as such by those of us now designated African Americans. When we become disenchanted with it, I am sure it will change.</p>
<p>Mom: why do you find this a problematic explanation? The designation predominates because it has been accepted by persons formerly called “Negro” or “Black” as their institutional and public designational preference. Hence its use on forms and applications…If we didn’t prefer it or have a group comfort level with it, the term would be changed on forms and applications as a result of protests over the use of the term. Simple as that.</p>
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<p>I’d call it that. It’s just PC-BS.</p>
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<p>Perhaps it’s preferred. But some people still prefer Negro, for example.</p>
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<p>[The</a> word ‘Negro’ on 2010 census form offends some blacks | theGrio](<a href=“http://thegrio.com/2010/01/05/the-word-negro-in-2010-census-form-offends-some-blacks/]The”>The word 'Negro' on 2010 census form offends some blacks - TheGrio)</p>
<p>Why is it necessary to turn this into a debate?</p>
<p>I am assuming that the two posters arguing with me about this are not African American. So, why is it necessary for you to prove me wrong? In most African American circles, African American is the term that African Americans prefer as a public, official designation. It is kind of irrelevant whether you are comfortable with the term or not, or find it PC. I am simply saying that it is the preferred term in public and institutional discourse. I would suspect that those objecting to it on the census form, and preferring “Negro,” are of a certain age, from an older generation. The designations changed with some rapidity in the years after the Civil Rights movement, and especially following the rise of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many older folk – I can speak from personal experience – did not like the designational change. I have known some older folk who DO still prefer to be called Negroes. Institutional and public usage, however (to the apparent consternation of some on CC) has followed the expected norm within the community being so designated.</p>
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<p>Why is it necessary for you to make several claims without citing any sources? Here’s a famous quote.</p>
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<p>It has nothing to do with you being black or not, at least for me. But when anyone presents an argument, such an argument should be examined and possibly rejected if it lacks evidence.</p>
<p>You make several claims. You cite no sources. I have no idea whether you’re actually knowledgeable in a particular issue, or you’re just saying nonsense. How hard is it to give some support for your argument? i found these sources in under a minute:</p>
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<p>and also (from the same link)</p>
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<p>[Black</a> or African American?](<a href=“http://www.gallup.com/poll/28816/black-african-american.aspx]Black”>Black or African American?)</p>
<p>Here’s another link where they said it’s preferred when speaking about the whole race: </p>
<p>[What’s</a> Black about It?: Insights to Increase Your Share of A Changing … - Pepper Miller, Herb Kemp - Google Books](<a href=“What's Black about It?: Insights to Increase Your Share of a Changing ... - Pepper Miller, Herb Kemp - Google Books”>What's Black about It?: Insights to Increase Your Share of a Changing ... - Pepper Miller, Herb Kemp - Google Books)</p>
<p>Look beyphy, I was really just responding to a high school student’s query. I had NO idea that it would become debatable or that any other poster would NEED to make this a debate, when this is really just a college forum. The OP questioned the use of the term “African American.” You and another poster snarked that it was PC, in your specific rejoinder “PC-BS.” Then you found it necessary to DISPROVE my claim that in PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL discourse, and in formal applications, usage has followed group preference. The people who often DETERMINE preference of designation are often the “leaders” and/or “spokespersons” of a particular group. Institutional and public discursive practice often follows the lead of those who purport to speak for a particular constituency. I really do not want to argue with you about how many average African Americans do not care what they are called. In academic circles (in which I run) and in political circles people that you prefer NOT to call African Americans, speak of themselves and as the group to which they belong as African Americans. Opinion shapers have a perhaps disproportionate impact on usages. I suppose I should cite numerous studies in public policy or sociology, but I am not going to get into an evidentiary shoving match with you. Call the chair of Harvard’s African American Studies Program (where I have taught – and I choose not to prove it to you, so there!) and ask if that is the accepted formal designation, and why. Really, I am not going to engage in any formal debate about what African Americans are called or should be called, or why institutional and public discourse seems to support that choice of a designation. It is what it is, until it no longer is.</p>
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<p>That’s what i read. But let’s take a look at a gem which stood out</p>
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<p>This seriously made me laugh. What respectable academic goes on a long tirade when they’re asked for sources to support their claims?</p>
<p>As if anyone seriously believes you taught at Harvard University (i, for one, don’t.)</p>
<p>It is irrelevant whether you believe me.</p>
<p>Interesting question from the OP, although the discussion has taken things downhill. I know a man born and raised in South Africa. His family had lived in Africa for generations and considered themselves African. He moved to the United States as an adult and eventually became an American citizen. He considers himself African-American. He is Caucasian. Although the dominant meaning of “African-American” is racial, there is also a different meaning: people who immigrated to the United States from Africa, whatever their racial group.</p>
<p>People who live in Egypt live on the continent of Africa, so why wouldn’t they have the right to call themselves African? I think the OP was asking a sincere question based on the understanding that African-American can have more than one meaning.</p>
<p>I agree with swingtime that people should call themselves what they want, especially when it frees them from labels that others have put on them. I’m totally all for that. However, that does bring up the question of why all people who immigrate to the U.S. from Africa shouldn’t have that same right.</p>
<p>I’m Tunisian American and have been debating whether or not to check the African American box. I’ve done a TOK oral on affirmative action, and do understand the point of it; to counteract a history of abuse. However now caught in this desperate struggle to get into school, I might say that I am just to get another edge. We’ll see, you definitely can check the box though, it’s not your responsibility to have understood the connotation, they either should be upfront and say black or let ALL africans apply.</p>
<p>Well I am definitely not sure what constitutes an African American, but I wanted to tell you guys a small story that might help that is extremely similar to Marsian’s example. It is my personal belief that colleges just honestly care about if YOU consider yourself AA or not, because if you do, they can admit you and add you to their statistics - it’s not really in their best interest to accuse unless it is blatant fraud. They don’t really care about if you are really Egyptian, Tunisian, Ethiopian, Haitian, South African etc. as long as YOU consider yourself AA and have a good reason for it. </p>
<p>Case in point, one of the top students at our high school was as pale and blonde as can be, she was born in South Africa and emigrated to the US and lived here all her life. Very smart and nice girl. She went ahead and checked African American on her college applications and sure enough she got in everywhere she applied except HYPS. She got into USC and was a trustee scholarship finalist. When she went into her interview, a couple of us wondered if the interview person/committee (however they do the interviews) would be surprised to see the color of her skin and her race even though she checked AA. We were basically wondering the same thing as the OP in this thread, what do private colleges consider AA? Sure enough, we learned later that they did ask her to tell a little about herself, and she told them her history and they never questioned her AA choice. </p>
<p>She’s now at USC on a full trustee scholarship. She had many many other great colleges to choose from as well such as Northwestern. </p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think colleges care if you choose AA as long as you consider yourself AA it should be fine. Unless it is blatant that you are not associated (or are 1/64th or something of that nature), you will not only be ok, the people reading your application will probably give you an affirmative action boost. </p>
<p>There’s really nothing to lose if you’re Egyptian to not check AA unless it clearly says Egyptians are not to be considered. The middle east is a different part of the planet. Egypt is in Africa. If you feel you are African, go ahead and check what you most associate yourself with. If you feel comfortable, I would highly advice you OP to check AA.</p>
<p>I agree with the above post.</p>
<p>I can’t find the source, but I read an article with tons of evidence that the Ancient Egpytians were indeed black- they had dark skin, “wooly hair,” etc. They were not light skinned as portrayed in movies and whatnot. :)</p>
<p>While I disagree with the three posters above (it is fairly clear in my opinion that colleges do not mean to include white South Africans and Egyptians under the rubric African Americans), I think that most people considering taking this route should, at the very least, check the box for AA and then indicate that they are Egyptian/American in the “other” section. If you truly feel that you are correct in ticking off African-American, then presumably you would have no problem giving the details on a college or a scholarship application. My strong suggestion here would be to give all the facts to a college/scholarship and let it make the determination itself (actually my stronger suggestion would be to not tick off AA at all, since it is extremely disingenuous to do so).</p>
<p>The box for white/caucasian is meant to include Middle Easterns,Europeans, and North Africans
Its always seemed kind of weird to me though, but that’s the way it is</p>
<p>Its sad for our society that race plays a role in admissions…was it not Dr. King who said we should be judged not by the content of our character but the color of our skin?</p>
<p>I know colleges want diversity…but I feel like colleges should admit you based on YOUR accomplishments, not something you’re inherently born with.</p>
<p>End Rant</p>