Should white South Africans who emigrate to the USA be referred to as African America

[Cainkane1]

Some years ago a caucasian from South Africa tried to get I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) afirmative action benefits by claiming to be an African American. He was in some college and was trying to get the same benefits as his African ancestried counterparts.. This came about after he became a citizen. The benefits were refused and I don't know the outcome of this.

Was he right to make the claim?

 

[casebro]

South-African/American?

(Country)-hyphen-American Is different than (Race)-hyphen-American.

The anti racial discrimination laws were not written as anti-Immigrant discrimination laws. Or is "race, creed, or country of origin" part of the rules for whatever preferential treatment the immigrant was trying to obtain?

 

[WildCat]

(Country)-hyphen-American Is different than (Race)-hyphen-American.

"African" is not a race.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Well, this person was certainly an African in America, but to claim for affirmative action is rather (No, completely) ridiculous considering they are in no way connected to those who suffered for so long for so little.

 

[caniswalensis]

Some years ago a caucasian from South Africa tried to get I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) afirmative action benefits by claiming to be an African American. He was in some college and was trying to get the same benefits as his African ancestried counterparts.. This came about after he became a citizen. The benefits were refused and I don't know the outcome of this.

Was he right to make the claim?

Naw, this is the classic example of the letter of the law versus the spirit in which it was intended. This Afrikaner no doubt knew what the difference was, but was either trying to make a point or pull a fast one.

Regards, Canis

 

[WildCat]

Well, this person was certainly an African in America, but to claim for affirmative action is rather (No, completely) ridiculous considering they are in no way connected to those who suffered for so long for so little.

So was Manute Bol an African-American? He doesn't fit your criteria either.

Neither does Barack Obama for that matter.

 

[Jekyll's Guest]

Some years ago a caucasian from South Africa tried to get I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) afirmative action benefits by claiming to be an African American. He was in some college and was trying to get the same benefits as his African ancestried counterparts.. This came about after he became a citizen. The benefits were refused and I don't know the outcome of this.

Was he right to make the claim?

I heard of a white college guy who merely pointed out that he came from Africa originally and so was 'African American', and was drawn and quartered by the thought police.

Are you confusing this story?

If the guy is different, and exactly as you state in the OP then he's stupid. But then I find benefits for ancestors stupid also. Where's my potato famine check?

 

[Jekyll's Guest]

So was Manute Bol an African-American? He doesn't fit your criteria either.

You're wasting time arguing semantics, when you should THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

 

[E.J.Armstrong]

The correct term is African-Usan

 

[WildCat]

Where's my potato famine check?

I just talked to Prince Charles, he says it's in the mail.

 

[Jekyll's Guest]

I just talked to Prince Charles, he says it's in the mail.

Aww man, who gave it to him?

He always blows the loot of building restoration and oats for Camilla.

Check is in the mail my ass.

 

[WildCat]

The correct term is African-Usan

Pip pip.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

So was Manute Bol an African-American? He doesn't fit your criteria either.

Neither does Barack Obama for that matter.

I suppose not, except someone still wouldn't have served them if they explained their family history. It goes on the colour before you. As Obama says, when he tried to get a taxi in New York, the driver doesn't go "There's that mixed-race guy".

 

[Cainkane1]

I heard of a white college guy who merely pointed out that he came from Africa originally and so was 'African American', and was drawn and quartered by the thought police.

Are you confusing this story?

If the guy is different, and exactly as you state in the OP then he's stupid. But then I find benefits for ancestors stupid also. Where's my potato famine check?

yeah its probably the same story. If it was merely a play on words then yes he is an African American and if he wasn't trying to capitalise on being an African American then the so called thought police should have left him alone.

 

[Cainkane1]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7567291&page=1

heres the story.

 

[Jekyll's Guest]

I suppose not, except someone still wouldn't have served them if they explained their family history. It goes on the colour before you. As Obama says, when he tried to get a taxi in New York, the driver doesn't go "There's that mixed-race guy".

Yet he's POTUS.

Damn whitey conspiracy really dropped the ball on that one.

I for one am handing in the secret white pointy hood I was handed when I was born white. What's the point of being part of a national conspiracy to discriminate based on race when we have such big holes in the net?

 

[Thunder]

affirmative action should only be for blacks who's ancestors live in the USA before 1964.

new immigrants from Africa and the Carribean did not suffer from American slavery and segregation, so they should not reap any benefits from it.

and by the way, I think in this context "African" refers to the racial group...not merely geographic ancestry.

African-American is synonymous with Negro and Black and Colored. Hence its purely racial and not geographic meanings.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

affirmative action should only be for blacks who's ancestors live in the USA before 1964.

new immigrants from Africa and the Carribean did not suffer from American slavery and segregation, so they should not reap any benefits from it.

Surely neither did they (Ancestors of those who suffered) though. Racism didn't cease with the civil rights act, nor did institutional police racism end in the UK with the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

 

[Thunder]

Surely neither did they (Ancestors of those who suffered) though. Racism didn't cease with the civil rights act, nor did institutional police racism end in the UK with the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

America's allowing it to happen ended in 1964. Federal policy allowed nation-wide discrimination to occur. In 1964, that all ended. It was now officially illegal to discriminate based on race.

 

[quadraginta]

A cite to go with the OP would be helpful.

I was reminded of the Paulo Serodio dust-up from last year, which is what I suspect Jekyll's Guest was referring to, but that bears no similarity to the situation Cainkane1 describes.

Upon investigation it turns out that that episode was far less straightforward or cut-and-dried than Jekyll's Guest suggests, as these things often are. It might help to have a bit more detail about this one. Otherwise the OP isn't much more than an invitation to blow off steam about affirmative action and the etymology of "African American".