When checking your race and ethnicity on an application, you have five choices according to the government agency for Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The racial subcultures in America are collectively divided according to national origin, as nature would suggest, and anyone could look at the races of the world and separate them with no problem. The shades of Black, white, red, along with facial features and physical stature, should make the task that much easier. But for the United States government the task may have proven to be a bit too advanced.

According to the United States government, if you are of European or Middle Eastern Decent or from North Africa, you can safely check "white." If you are "Black or African-America" you are considered "A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa" and should check "Black or African-America." How disillusioned is this philosophy?

First of all, how can North African be separated from the rest of Africa? Second, by what misguided geographical calculation did the Middle East end up under European jurisdiction? Either this is a brazen and shameless attempt of the Western World to claim the riches and glory of the cradle of civilization, or they are so insistent on creating a racial divide that their sense of intelligence have been severely dulled.

The Official Report:

Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity This classification provides a minimum standard for maintaining, collecting, and presenting data on race and ethnicity for all Federal reporting purposes. The categories in this classification are social-political constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature. They are not to be used as determinants of eligibility for participation in any Federal program. The standards have been developed to provide a common language for uniformity and comparability in the collection and use of data on race and ethnicity by Federal agencies.

The standards have five categories for data on race: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. There are two categories for data on ethnicity: "Hispanic or Latino," and "Not Hispanic or Latino."

1. Categories and Definitions

The minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity for Federal statistics, program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting are defined as follows:

-- American Indian or Alaska Native. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

-- Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

-- Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black or African American."

-- Hispanic or Latino. A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term, "Spanish origin," can be used in addition to "Hispanic or Latino."

-- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

-- White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Respondents shall be offered the option of selecting one or more racial designations. Recommended forms for the instruction accompanying the multiple response question are "Mark one or more" and "Select one or more."

If logic serves as a natural law, then any Middle Eastern person in their right mind would be offended by being lumped as a white European. Furthermore, if common sense reigns as mans most primitive sense for survival, anyone in his or her right mind would question the logic behind Africa. Egypt and all of North Africa are actually "Africa." And the people originally [or of national origin] from there are by nature considered "African." Duh! What has possessed the American government to commit such a haughty act of deception? This antic of the American government is one that definitely shows their future intentions for World Imperialism.

Source From: http://www.omhrc.gov/omh/sidebar/omb_datastats_1997.htm

© 2004 by C.R. Hamilton