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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2806
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 6 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 02:16 am: | 
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Egyptian Immigrant
fights for
Black Classification
DETROIT (CNN) -- An Egyptian immigrant is suing the U.S. government because they've told him he's white when his entire life he's been black.
Mostafa Hefny was born in Egypt and has always been proud of his Egyptian culture and his African ancestry. But when Hefny immigrated to America, the U.S. government told him he was no longer a black man.
"I was not told by Immigration that I was white until I passed the exam for citizenship and then I was told I am now white," he explains.
Hefny initially laughed when told of his new racial classification, but he's no longer chuckling. He recently filed suit against the U.S. government to get his race classification changed back from white to black.
"It hurts me. It definitely hurts me," Hefny says. "It hurts me because I am unable to reconcile my reality as a black person."
In addition to the emotional hurt, Hefny says that when the government changed his race, they also changed his social status.
"Definitely, I would've had more opportunity for advancement and even for hiring had I been considered black," he says. "I was prevented from applying and requesting positions and other benefits for minority person because I knew I was legally white."
One of the problems with the naturalization process is that race is classified by geographic location and not ancestry. That's part of the immigration process his lawsuit hopes to change.
The lawsuit targets Directive Number 15 of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The directive defines black as a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. A white person is defined as having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa or the Middle East.
"In the late '60s and early '70s, they found that different agencies were using different definitions for the same categories of people, and they thought it was important to have comprehensibility across federal agencies," explains Sally Katzen of the OMB.
The OMB is hoping to change the way they define races by revamping the troublesome directive.
"The principle we thought very important is self-identification," Katzen says. "I think that it is almost beyond dispute that an individual should identify himself or herself rather than have someone else do it."
Although it seems the government agrees with Hefny in principle, it refuses to respond publicly to his lawsuit. He expects that response later this year.
_____________________________
*WITH PERMISSION, letter to HEFNY
from the U.S. Government
_____________________________
Mostafa Hefny
5130 Neckel
Dearborn, MI 48126
Dear Mr. Hefny:
Be advised that the Michigan Department of Education collects racial and ethnic data as prescribed in Directive No. 15, "Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting." This directive provides standard classification for record keeping, collection, and presentations of data on race and ethnicity in Federal program administrative reporting and statistical activities.
According to this Directive a white person is a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa or the Middle East. Since you come from Egypt (a North African and Middle Eastern country) you are white, not black.
You are directed to change your classification on the Race/Ethnic Identification Card. Be advised that failure to do so will have serious repercussions for your career, and will constitute insubordination, which may result in suspension and discharge.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Teresa D. Myers
Director, Human Resources
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Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2807
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 02:18 am: |
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TODAY's BLACK EGYPTIANS
http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/2152/9008.html?1144290409
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5826
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 07:31 am: |
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Kola,
So then, by the logic of Directive Number 15 of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, if British citizens singer Seal and model Naomi Campbell were to become a U.S. citizens, they would be formally deemed a White people?
Also, is Oscar-winning actress Charise Theron of South Africa an American citizen? If so, is she considered a Black woman?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2811
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 11:39 am: |
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Well, no--they have different guidelines believe it or not for British and South African immigrants as they constantly see an influx of White, Black, Indian and Asian from those two areas.
MOST immigrants from South Africa are "not" black.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5838
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 11:48 am: |
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Kola,
So then if Hefny were immigrating from Britain he could formally label himself Black?
This is, without a doubt, some of the craziest shyt I've read this year. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5839
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 11:49 am: |
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And it so ironic.
Because here you have a immigrant who WANTS to be considered Black. While you have many Black foks who've been born here in America who want to be everything BUT Black. |
Schakspir
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 461
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 11:58 am: |
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This is total bullshit. The U.S. Government is so arrogant and presumptious, it thinks it can tell people--to their face--who and what they are. Hefny should leave Michigan. In fact, he should try Canada--it's just across the border. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2814
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:06 pm: |
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ABM,
Yes---if he came from Britain,he could be black.
It's EGYPT they don't want associated with "black".
ABM, many blacks here don't believe me---but this is PART of the constant attack against me by the U.S. media. The fear that I might come to place a "black face" on EGYPT for Black Americans.
And in Southern Egypt...because we, the blacks, have been totally wiped out by centuries of MIXING (which is what my white birth father rebelled against by marrying charcoal)....people like Hefny and I are HYPER-sensitive to protecting our people's color, identity and are VERY UPSET about the whole thing now being done to the Black Americans.
This is how they wipe you off the face of the earth.
It's always been their answer. They teach you that you are NOTHING but a monkey...then they give you your woman and they breed you into EXTINCTION. Look at the American Indians.
THAT LETTER and THAT LAW, ABM, proves what Hefny and I am telling people.
And whenever the MEDIA writes about me--notice they will mention I am Sudanese, but my "father's lineage"--which normally would be placed in front of that---they never mention.
Only in my publicist's press releases is my Egyptian heritage mentioned. And this is because---I am not the right IMAGE to represent.
BLACK HARVARD UNIVERSITY Professors were quite disappointed, years ago when I first appeared, because I didn't look more like Lani Guanier or SHOLA, the creole filmmaker you were talking about the other day. I don't look like the Yellow Arab biracial that BLACK educated men like to support in representing their "dream" of North Africa.
I am too black. In every way.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5843
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Kola,
I agree African Americans need to STOP deifying Egypt. At least as it CURRENTLY exists. Because from what I've heard and read A LOT of African Americans who've actually visited the place seeking some sort of historically African solidarity get their feelings HURT. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2817
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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ABM,
Are you reading my posts??? I didn't say a thing about AAs deifying Egypt.
LOL!
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5844
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:28 pm: |
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Kola,
And I always think it pathetically sad and yet TELLING how African Americans who are the product West Africans fixate upon Egypt. It's as if they're chasing the glory of fabled Egyptian pyramids and pharoahs/queens like Ramses and Cleopatra. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5845
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |
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Kola,
Sorry. My error.
Well I THINK African Americans should stop deifying Egypt. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2820
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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OK, agreed. 
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 265
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 02:29 pm: |
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Read: "Rogue State" A Guide to the World's Only Superpower, by William Blum.
If you know anything about Black History and pay attention to what Kola's been saying, it can be quite startling. |
Kola_boof
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 2837
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 02:33 pm: |
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TONYA!!!!!
I miss you girl.
Please stay with me and ABM. Fuck the rest.
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 266
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 02:37 pm: |
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OK, agreed |
Nels
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Nels
Post Number: 504
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 08:43 pm: |
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Oh, the insanity of it all. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1143
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 09:24 pm: |
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I wonder if it angers the government just a little that someone would have the choice to be classified as white, and chooses black anyways....LOL.
BTW, the governments of other countries ASK and LOBBY to have their nationality classified as white in the US.
A Pakistani friend of mine was given a ticket and was upset when he found that his race was listed as "white". He was stopped by a black policeman and thought he was being insulted. When he talked to his lawyer, he was told that according to the rules we have in place, if he's not black/African/Japanese/Chinese/Korean, then he's considered white and the classification was set in place by Pakistan lobbying for it to be just so.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOH, to get back around to the "invading" topic....notice that Pakistan/Indian (once under British occupation) and North Africa (once under French occupation) ask for these classifications....yet, the Far East Asians who didn't have the same kind of occupation don't mind being considered "Asian". Just a theory to think about..... |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5902
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 11, 2006 - 07:50 am: |
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It would be very INTERESTING to see how swaying immigrants into the "White" catagory benefit White Americans. I'm CERTAIN it does. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 05:34 pm: |
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It certainly makes the "majority" seem more "major" when they have many more incoming immigrants become them and not some minority. |
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