Joined: 24 Sep 2008 {Posts: 102 } Location: Santiago, DR
Posted: Fri 17 Oct 2008 13:02 Post subject: Can one change their legal ethnic classification?
Somewhat toungue in cheek, I was wondering if one could legally change their ethnicity classification after they are an adult?
An example would be my own case, I'm a typical white person from the South but relatively recently, we found out through tracing our family history that the mother of our family patriarch was born in Santo Domingo the city(now part of the Dominican Rep.) Furthermore, I speak Spanish fluently on the level of many second generation hispanics born in the US and I have been living in Santiago, Dominican Republic for some time now.
Even though I ask this somewhat facetiously, as I have posted a thread stating that racial classifications should be ignored, but until that happens there are certain advantages to being labled a minority, especially when it comes to winning government contracts (I am a contract engineer). Anyway, I'd appreciate peoples opinions.
Posted: Fri 17 Oct 2008 14:54 Post subject: Re: Can one change their legal ethnic classification?
chip wrote:
I was wondering if one could legally change their ethnicity classification after they are an adult
Yes indeed. It happens all the time. There is very good evidence that about 35,000 Euro-looking youngsters born into the A-A community per year switch to checking off "White" or "Hispanic" after high school. (I have no data on ethnicity-switching from "White" to something else.)
Keep in mind, though, that there is a risk in doing this in order to profit from minority entitlements. If you switch in order to gain profit, your new self-identity is likely to be challenged by others in the same competition. When this happens, you will probably find yourself in court charged with "racial" fraud.
Courts today consistently decide such cases on the basis of community support. If the political leadership of the ethnic community in which you newly claim membership supports you and testifies that you are indeed a member of their ethnic group, you will win the case, no matter your appearance, no matter your ancestry. On the other hand, if the local ethnic community leaders deny even knowing who you are, you will lose and might even be convicted of criminal fraud. Again, your appeance and/or genealogy are irrelevant.
If you wish, I can provide many examples of such court decisions over the past 20 years or so.
Joined: 24 Sep 2008 {Posts: 102 } Location: Santiago, DR
Posted: Fri 17 Oct 2008 15:43 Post subject: Re: Can one change their legal ethnic classification?
fwsweet wrote:
chip wrote:
I was wondering if one could legally change their ethnicity classification after they are an adult
Yes indeed. It happens all the time. There is very good evidence that about 35,000 Euro-looking youngsters born into the A-A community per year switch to checking off "White" or "Hispanic" after high school. (I have no data on ethnicity-switching from "White" to something else.)
Keep in mind, though, that there is a risk in doing this in order to profit from minority entitlements. If you switch in order to gain profit, your new self-identity is likely to be challenged by others in the same competition. When this happens, you will probably find yourself in court charged with "racial" fraud.
Courts today consistently decide such cases on the basis of community support. If the political leadership of the ethnic community in which you newly claim membership supports you and testifies that you are indeed a member of their ethnic group, you will win the case, no matter your appearance, no matter your ancestry. On the other hand, if the local ethnic community leaders deny even knowing who you are, you will lose and might even be convicted of criminal fraud. Again, your appeance and/or genealogy are irrelevant.
If you wish, I can provide many examples of such court decisions over the past 20 years or so.
This is very interesting. To be honest I actually contacted an office of Orlando in charge of reviewing minority status applications (in order to be granted minority status) with the same intent and they told me that in order to be able to claim to be "hispanic" that I would need to prove at least one of my parents was shown to be hispanic by an official record, such as a birth certificate, otherwise the application would be flatly denied. Apparently (and believable of course) they gave me erroneous information. Also, family tradition says thay we have a Cherokee indian blood 5 generations back on my father's side - but to get labled as an amerindian I understand one has to find one's name on a couple of the "rolls". Because of the incomplete records of our geneology, I discounted this option.
The more I think about it this is becoming more plausible. I think I will put myself in contact with one or two of the Hispanic organizations in Orlando and see what they will say (as this is where I have my business located).
Also, this forum has really got me interested in my racial makeup, based on some of our family characteristics (such as dark skin and relatively wide noses with prominent nostrils) I wouldn't be surprised if we do have significant amerindian or ssa blood in our veins. Here is a picture of my ugly mug - don't let it upset your breakfast.
Posted: Fri 17 Oct 2008 19:53 Post subject: Re: Can one change their legal ethnic classification?
chip wrote:
fwsweet wrote:
chip wrote:
I was wondering if one could legally change their ethnicity classification after they are an adult
Yes indeed. It happens all the time. There is very good evidence that about 35,000 Euro-looking youngsters born into the A-A community per year switch to checking off "White" or "Hispanic" after high school. (I have no data on ethnicity-switching from "White" to something else.)
Keep in mind, though, that there is a risk in doing this in order to profit from minority entitlements. If you switch in order to gain profit, your new self-identity is likely to be challenged by others in the same competition. When this happens, you will probably find yourself in court charged with "racial" fraud.
Courts today consistently decide such cases on the basis of community support. If the political leadership of the ethnic community in which you newly claim membership supports you and testifies that you are indeed a member of their ethnic group, you will win the case, no matter your appearance, no matter your ancestry. On the other hand, if the local ethnic community leaders deny even knowing who you are, you will lose and might even be convicted of criminal fraud. Again, your appeance and/or genealogy are irrelevant.
If you wish, I can provide many examples of such court decisions over the past 20 years or so.
This is very interesting. To be honest I actually contacted an office of Orlando in charge of reviewing minority status applications (in order to be granted minority status) with the same intent and they told me that in order to be able to claim to be "hispanic" that I would need to prove at least one of my parents was shown to be hispanic by an official record, such as a birth certificate, otherwise the application would be flatly denied. Apparently (and believable of course) they gave me erroneous information. Also, family tradition says thay we have a Cherokee indian blood 5 generations back on my father's side - but to get labled as an amerindian I understand one has to find one's name on a couple of the "rolls". Because of the incomplete records of our geneology, I discounted this option.
The more I think about it this is becoming more plausible. I think I will put myself in contact with one or two of the Hispanic organizations in Orlando and see what they will say (as this is where I have my business located).
Also, this forum has really got me interested in my racial makeup, based on some of our family characteristics (such as dark skin and relatively wide noses with prominent nostrils) I wouldn't be surprised if we do have significant amerindian or ssa blood in our veins. Here is a picture of my ugly mug - don't let it upset your breakfast. :)
With the exception of American Indian ancestry (which requires membership in a federally recognized tribe), the genetic standards for claiming to be in one of the official "minority" classifications appear to be very low as well as contradictory. Did you ask your contacts what it would take for you to claim a "black" or "African American" identity? Since Americans are constantly propagandized with the "one drop makes you black" nonsense (which a surprising number of people have NOT internalized) AND scientists tell us that the human race originated in Africa, almost anyone SHOULD be able to claim "African American" legal status.
Posted: Fri 17 Oct 2008 20:10 Post subject: Re: Can one change their legal ethnic classification?
Powell wrote:
Since Americans are constantly propagandized with the "one drop makes you black" nonsense (which a surprising number of people have NOT internalized) AND scientists tell us that the human race originated in Africa, almost anyone SHOULD be able to claim "African American" legal status.
But it does not work that way in practice. Look at the Malone twins. Better yet, look at Mostafa Hefny. Best of all, look at State v. Smulls 1996 MO (935 S.W. 2d 9). Using only the ODR as a basis for claiming minority entitlements (without local A-A community support) is virtually guaranteed to get you thrown out of court or worse.
'
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