S/O- Affirmative Action- where does it end?
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Anonymous
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Somewhat inspired by the « white Latina » post but this is something I’ve been struggling for a while. For those who support affirmative action (or for that matter those who don’t necessarily support it) what should the parameters be on when someone is entitled to invoke it?
I am mixed race- half black half white- and grew up working poor raised in a single (white) parent household. For context, my African American parent , who was not in the picture, is light skinned so while I don’t look caucasian, most people assume I am Hispanic/Asian/Mediterranean rather than half black and growing up I was never really exposed to African American culture.When applying to college I had some hang ups as to what to claim, since I never really had a connection with my African American heritage, but ultimately (and truthfully) stated my race(s) as black/white and definitely benefited as a result in the admissions process. Fast forward 25 + years and my son is now preparing to apply for college. We are an upper middle class family, my husband is Caucasian and my son essentially looks white (blue eyes, light hair with maybe a hint of a Mediterranean complexion) . He also does not have any real identification with the African American culture since neither his father nor I were raised with it, however he is aware of his genetic background and has been asking whether he should check the African American box on applications, which would definitely give him an advantage. My husband is all for it but I have some moral concerns with him claiming this racial identity purely for the sake of the admissions boost since he basically is perceived as white and has no real connection with black culture, nor is he likely to face any resulting prejudice. However, on the surface with a 25% genetic background it is completely accurate and reasonable for him to claim dual white-African American heritage and I don’t want to deprive him of an advantage he is legitimately entitled to because of my hang ups or have him resent me in the future by pushing him not to claim it, particularly when it is something I myself benefited from. What would you do in these circumstances? |
Anonymous
| Check it and don't look back |
Anonymous
| The one drop rule does not apply. Your son is white. |
Anonymous
OP here and in that case genuine question- what would you say defines when someone can/cannot claim a racial affiliation? Racial percentage (and if so what percent is acceptable ), skin tone? Cultural affinity? I agree that it seems somehow wrong, given the goals of affirmative action, but I’m struggling with if/how I should tell my son not to claim a legitimate part of his heritage because the benefit is not meant for him, especially knowing that the college game is rigged in so many other ways. |
Anonymous
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The truth is it’s not really going to help all that much but you should check AA because the fact is his heritage is AA even if you don’t celebrate it. You would have been raise upper middle class if you were not AA.
They look more at income snd 1st to attend college now. If you hadn’t attended college your child would get a bigger boost that marking AA. |
Anonymous
| OP your son is Caucasian and African American. He can check those boxes. It’s not moral issue or a matter of interpretation. It’s a fact, just as much as his name is a fact or his address is a fact. Best wishes to him and you in this process. There are a lot of moving parts. No need for this to be one of them. |
Anonymous
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^^^
Also I don’t think you understand Affirmative action. They don’t give you a boost for just being AA they give you a boost for being at the top of your “cohort” if you are in the middle of your “cohort” nobody cares about you checking AA. |
Anonymous
| If your kid doesn't identify as AA and has no physical attributes to being AA, then it will look really strange when the admissions staff looks him up and sees an image of an otherwise white person staring them from their SNAP or IG profile. |
Anonymous
| OP I have a somewhat similar situation but I have 2 kids. One is darker than the minority spouse! The other is like your son, maybe looks a little tan but that’s about it. I find it really strange to have one kid claim their mixed race and one not, so safe to say they both will. |
Anonymous
| I think it would be wise for your son to include some information about growing up “white passing” in his essays, to give the full picture. Also, some of this is in your control. You can spend more time with your kid engaging with race issues and helping him contextualize his black heritage and white passing status b |
Anonymous
But OP’s son is in fact one quarter black. Is the son now expected to edit the facts of his genetics based on what an admissions counselor might think. And if the counselor is that insular, I’d say the problem is with the counselor This is the year 2021. Applicants are able to check more than one box for a reason. My DD is half Asian and half white. She looks Hispanic. People who don’t know her often assume she’s Hispanic based on her looks and even try to speak Spanish with her. But that is not her culture or identity at all. Should she check the Latin American box on her apps because, in looking at her Insta, the reps might believe based on looks that she is Hispanic? Doing so would be as inaccurate and asinine as what you are saying to OP. |
Anonymous
Aren’t these questions about how the person identifies? And not how the person looks.? |
Anonymous
| Of course your child should check the box. He is 25% AA. You should have no guilt about this! Good luck. |
Anonymous
| I’d be careful with thjs stuff now, esp since people are outing others who fake an identity. Does he actually identify as black? If not then don’t check the box. So simple. |
Anonymous
No it won’t unless you are super uneducated and racist. |