I am a white South African. Would I be considered African-American to apply for minority status for a Loan?

Question

I also have a friend from Spain. Would he be able to qualify as a minority (Hispanic) in the U.S.?

Answer 1

The term "African-American" really means black American, and refers to those who trace their ancestry to the indigenous population of sub-Saharan Africa. The programs which were begun to benefit "African-Americans" were designed for those people who used to be referred to as black, *****, colored, or "persons of color." It would not apply to a white medical doctor from Zimbabwe whose ancestors had lived in Africa for over 100 years and who became a naturalized United States citizen. It would also not apply to Theresa Heinz Kerry in spite of the fact that she was born in what had been Portuguese East Africa, now Mozambique, because her family was white.

Hispanic American seems to apply to any American citizen who has Spanish or "Hispanic" ancestry. The language that is spoken at home is of no consequence. I know of one case where an American citizen of Sephardic heritage received benefits under a government program. He can trace his ancestry back to Spain before 1492. However, his family was expelled during that period of time and lived in Morocco for hundreds of years before emigrating to the United States.

Unfortunately, I think there are always going to be people who are going to try to "beat the system" to get the advantage of programs that were intended to benefit disadvantaged American blacks and Hispanics. Perhaps the programs should have been designed more restrictively.

Answer 2

African-Americans are the Blacks and a White South African is not covered under the term. A Spaniard is not a minority or Hispanic in the US because he is a citizen of Spain.

Answer 3

I don't think so. After all there are almost no African-Americans from Africa. The person from Spain may qualify as Hispanic. It used to specify an Hispanic surname. Flaky laws for sure but after all it is Govt.

Answer 4

for as interesting as your question seemed - you would not qualify.
it is accepted that in order to qualify you would have to be "black and to be the ancestor of a person indigenous to sub-saharan africa".
somehow i would believe that you cannot lay a claim to that.
The term is widely overused - for good reason and the color of your skin does not automatically make you a minority.
in your case you would be, should you be a citizen, south african american, just as your friend would be spanish american or a person from france french american.
as far as minority status to obtain a loan - look at the interest charged on those loans and decide for yourself if you really would have an advantage?
still, good question.

Answer 5

Why would you want to benefit at the expense of others? Minority status loans were established due a racist attitude towards minorities by whites such as yourself and here you are trying to benefit from it. Minorities have been and still are being accused of milking the government. Don't you think that you're trying to do what your people claim to detest so much?

Answer 6

Are you American? so you are African only
And about your spanish friend yes he is hispanic
the term hispanic refers to Spain and the Spanish language native speakers

Answer 7

Just curious, in other areas of your life where it wouldn't benefit you per se, do you put down that you're African American? Like if you were applying for a job over the internet, what would you put down?

Answer 8

This is an awesome question and I wish I knew more about the law so I could answer it for you but even if someone just posed this question as a scruple I would have to say yes, your African American you should have all kinds of things at your disposal

Answer 9

Of course you would be an African -American ; he would be a Spanish -American, not Hispanic as that designation infers ancestory to Spain

Answer 10

i assume they're extra African American, then the persons contained in u . s . a . of america call African American, by way of fact their history from Africa I very very a great way back and the suitable area in Africa is in many situations unknown.