Anonymous wrote:More and more you'll find a "Multiracial" category people can choose.

However if you are AA or Hispanic, check it - there are still perks in this day and age.

Blacks (AA) are multiracial. I'm AA and my ancestors are African, German and Native American. I'm multiracial. I'm just a product of slavery. That's all "black" means in America anyway. I've met several Africans (from Africa) who resent being grouped in the same category as me because they are proud of their unique country/heritage.

Several of my relatives passed for white a couple of generations ago. It's just that my family ended up with slightly darker skin and couldn't pass (but were close).

Many years from now folks will look back on these insane categories that we put people in and wonder what in the world we were thinking.

PP, black or black and white kids don't usually have that luxury. I'm sure that Obama was reminded that he was black several times over his lifetime. This is akin to a white American family adopting an AA child and assuming that they are exempt from racism or will be viewed as Caucasian suddenly because of his/her parents. If anything, a black boy with a White mother and a racially ambigious sister probably drew more looks in the 60s-80s.

In your son's case, I assume your son's father isn't primarily of African or Amer Indian descent. Since Latino isn't a race, it wouldnt be surprising if your son is primarily of Euro descent so thats a different story.

I don't really see Obama as black. He is biracial. He was mostly raised by the Caucasian side of his family, right? My son is Caucasian and Hispanic. He is mostly being raised my his Caucasian side of the family (I'm a single mom). If he were to be elected president, it would be a stretch to say that he is the first Hispanic president mostly due to his upbringing. I've seen different choices on forms though. I usually check all of the boxes that apply and I've even created my own box (biracial).

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Actually no, that part is not confusing. If North Africans say they're white, then they're white. Because I classify myself, and you classify yourself, and President Obama classifies himself, and people from North Africa classify themselves. The question is, what category would a North African pick who does not consider themself white?

I hope you know that Egyptians are both white and blue black in color. And they are all Egyptians from the Northern part of the African continent.

Terrific. Then they can pick "black or African American", if that's what they want to pick. Or not, if they don't.

Nonetheless, the point remains that "white" is often thought of as meaning "European", and Egyptians, no matter how pale their skin may be, are not from Europe.

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Unfortunately, a person can self-identify, but largely, it is about your skin color/features. I saw an interview with Tiger Woods once, and he identifies himself as he is - part black, caucasian, navtive american, asian. But a black guy said about him, you are black and people will see you as black because of your skin color.

So when Tiger Woods fills out his forms, he can pick "more than one race". And when you fill out Tiger Woods's forms for him (though I can't imagine why you would ever do this), you can pick "black".

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Anonymous wrote:I have wondered about a similar question, b/c I have two Chinese-American daughters, but my DH and I are Caucasian. I have wondered, when we get to this point, if it would make a difference one way or another as to which "box" they check (say, on college applications) and, if so, which one would be "better."

Your daughters, I assume adopted since you are both White, are Asian. They are not White simply because you raised them. You cannot take away their ethnicity and race.

Many times I see the question written, "Mark the race you most identify with," or something to that extent. That is why Obama is black even though he's 50% white. Technically because he is 50/50 he is mixed but he gets away with being black because that's how he identifies himself (and because he can claim racism from whites easier).

I was born in the US and whenever there's the choice of Native American, I choose that even though technically I am white - I identify as Native American.

So should every person born in the U.S. should identify as Native American? A Korean-American, an Indian-American, a Jamaican-American, if they were all born here, they should also check Native American?

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Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

On one of the threads on DCUM, I mentioned that Egyptians were Africans but was told they were actually Middle Easterners as an ethnicity.

I think Egyptians are North Africans not "Africans".

North Africa is in Africa. You can tell because it's called North AFRICA.

MCPS offers these choices: white, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, black or African-American, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. What is the most appropriate choice for somebody from North Africa? Beats me. Does MCPS offer "other" as a choice?

Also, as a PP said, Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. MCPS should not conflate the two categories.

It's confusing. Some north africans look white, some look Hispanic and some look black How about black Asians? They are Asians, right?

Actually no, that part is not confusing. If North Africans say they're white, then they're white. Because I classify myself, and you classify yourself, and President Obama classifies himself, and people from North Africa classify themselves. The question is, what category would a North African pick who does not consider themself white?

Unfortunately, a person can self-identify, but largely, it is about your skin color/features. I saw an interview with Tiger Woods once, and he identifies himself as he is - part black, caucasian, navtive american, asian. But a black guy said about him, you are black and people will see you as black because of your skin color.

Well if they didn't prior, they began identifying him as such after that golf club flew through his sUV window.

Nope. The interview was way before the club thru the window incident. It was when he first became big on the scene.

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Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

On one of the threads on DCUM, I mentioned that Egyptians were Africans but was told they were actually Middle Easterners as an ethnicity.

I think Egyptians are North Africans not "Africans".

North Africa is in Africa. You can tell because it's called North AFRICA.

MCPS offers these choices: white, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, black or African-American, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. What is the most appropriate choice for somebody from North Africa? Beats me. Does MCPS offer "other" as a choice?

Also, as a PP said, Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. MCPS should not conflate the two categories.

It's confusing. Some north africans look white, some look Hispanic and some look black How about black Asians? They are Asians, right?

Actually no, that part is not confusing. If North Africans say they're white, then they're white. Because I classify myself, and you classify yourself, and President Obama classifies himself, and people from North Africa classify themselves. The question is, what category would a North African pick who does not consider themself white?

Unfortunately, a person can self-identify, but largely, it is about your skin color/features. I saw an interview with Tiger Woods once, and he identifies himself as he is - part black, caucasian, navtive american, asian. But a black guy said about him, you are black and people will see you as black because of your skin color.

Well if they didn't prior, they began identifying him as such after that golf club flew through his sUV window.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

On one of the threads on DCUM, I mentioned that Egyptians were Africans but was told they were actually Middle Easterners as an ethnicity.

I think Egyptians are North Africans not "Africans".

North Africa is in Africa. You can tell because it's called North AFRICA.

MCPS offers these choices: white, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, black or African-American, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. What is the most appropriate choice for somebody from North Africa? Beats me. Does MCPS offer "other" as a choice?

Also, as a PP said, Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. MCPS should not conflate the two categories.

It's confusing. Some north africans look white, some look Hispanic and some look black How about black Asians? They are Asians, right?

Actually no, that part is not confusing. If North Africans say they're white, then they're white. Because I classify myself, and you classify yourself, and President Obama classifies himself, and people from North Africa classify themselves. The question is, what category would a North African pick who does not consider themself white?

I hope you know that Egyptians are both white and blue black in color. And they are all Egyptians from the Northern part of the African continent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

On one of the threads on DCUM, I mentioned that Egyptians were Africans but was told they were actually Middle Easterners as an ethnicity.

I think Egyptians are North Africans not "Africans".

LOL, As opposed to South Africans, Central Africans, Left Africans, West Africans, Sub Saharan Africans. What? It's a freaking continent. They are all Africans

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Anonymous wrote:I have wondered about a similar question, b/c I have two Chinese-American daughters, but my DH and I are Caucasian. I have wondered, when we get to this point, if it would make a difference one way or another as to which "box" they check (say, on college applications) and, if so, which one would be "better."

Your daughters, I assume adopted since you are both White, are Asian. They are not White simply because you raised them. You cannot take away their ethnicity and race.

Many times I see the question written, "Mark the race you most identify with," or something to that extent. That is why Obama is black even though he's 50% white. Technically because he is 50/50 he is mixed but he gets away with being black because that's how he identifies himself (and because he can claim racism from whites easier).

I was born in the US and whenever there's the choice of Native American, I choose that even though technically I am white - I identify as Native American.

Oh, and Obama looks Black. America identifies him as Black. If he tried to say he was white, he would be crucified from every side. It isn't as if he looks like his sister. Or, actresses Jennifer Beale, Rashida Jones or even Mariah Carey. They can say white without anyone batting an eye.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

On one of the threads on DCUM, I mentioned that Egyptians were Africans but was told they were actually Middle Easterners as an ethnicity.

I think Egyptians are North Africans not "Africans".

North Africa is in Africa. You can tell because it's called North AFRICA.

MCPS offers these choices: white, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, black or African-American, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. What is the most appropriate choice for somebody from North Africa? Beats me. Does MCPS offer "other" as a choice?

Also, as a PP said, Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. MCPS should not conflate the two categories.

It's confusing. Some north africans look white, some look Hispanic and some look black How about black Asians? They are Asians, right?

Actually no, that part is not confusing. If North Africans say they're white, then they're white. Because I classify myself, and you classify yourself, and President Obama classifies himself, and people from North Africa classify themselves. The question is, what category would a North African pick who does not consider themself white?

Unfortunately, a person can self-identify, but largely, it is about your skin color/features. I saw an interview with Tiger Woods once, and he identifies himself as he is - part black, caucasian, navtive american, asian. But a black guy said about him, you are black and people will see you as black because of your skin color.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have wondered about a similar question, b/c I have two Chinese-American daughters, but my DH and I are Caucasian. I have wondered, when we get to this point, if it would make a difference one way or another as to which "box" they check (say, on college applications) and, if so, which one would be "better."

Your daughters, I assume adopted since you are both White, are Asian. They are not White simply because you raised them. You cannot take away their ethnicity and race.

Many times I see the question written, "Mark the race you most identify with," or something to that extent. That is why Obama is black even though he's 50% white. Technically because he is 50/50 he is mixed but he gets away with being black because that's how he identifies himself (and because he can claim racism from whites easier).

I was born in the US and whenever there's the choice of Native American, I choose that even though technically I am white - I identify as Native American.

Yeah, well her daughters are not half white. Nor, are they technically white. What away to erase her adopted children's ethnicity, race, and heritage by saying they don't exist because the adopted parents are white.

Anonymous wrote:I have an Egyptian friend (middle eastern, not black) and she marks "African American" on everything. She concedes that she's more African than most blacks in America.

America has a problem with race obviously.

That's funny. Good for her - she's right.

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Anonymous wrote:My kids are Caucasian and Latino.

We mark "other" and write in American.

You must not be the Latino parent. Latino isn't a racial category it is an ethnic category. You can be Latino and white, Latino and black, Latino and Asian, etc.

I'm not the PP, but I find that Latino is often listed as a racial category on many of the forms I fill out for the kids. So, you might want to let MCPS know that they're wrong.

(IMO, they're wrong for asking anyway.)