Race/Ethnicity question

[r2ipune2008]

I recently met a retired school principal and during our conversation we discussed the topic on how kids are categorized under the Race/Ethnicity for submission of reports to the Federal Department. She told me that Indians were always listed as a White Caucasian and not as Asian (as what I expected it to be). Her argument was that Asians are those from China, Korea, Japan (and the term she used was those with small eyes are categorized as Asian) and Indians typically did not fit that profile. Hence, Indians are listed as White Caucasian.

It seems like Race/Ethnicity is determined by the persons features rather than the country/continent that they come from. Now that it was brought to my attention I seem to think that she is correct? I am now curious to know how my kids are listed in their school.

Anyone thoughts on this? In application forms, etc. - do you list yourself as a Asian or White Caucasian?

[ahirman]

As far as my knowledge goes no one can categorize you for ethnicity or race. You have to categorize yourself and you can choose not to in most of the places. A school cannot categorize your kids without your consent. So what the lady was telling you is not true.

May be she was talking about American Indians and not Asian Indians. As an Indian one has to make a distinction about Asian part in many places.

[nupita]

As far as my knowledge goes no one can categorize you for ethnicity or race. You have to categorize yourself and you can choose not to in most of the places. A school cannot categorize your kids without your consent. So what the lady was telling you is not true.

May be she was talking about American Indians and not Asian Indians. As an Indian one has to make a distinction about Asian part in many places.

Indians were treated as Caucasians till 1920s for US immigration purposes. That is How Lala Lajpat Rai was able to come to US and got green card on arrival.


www.understandingrace.org/.../eastern_southern_immigration.html


In the case of United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind, Associate Justice George Sutherland interpreted the law based on his opinion that the framers of the Constitution would never have intended to allow Bhagat Singh Thind (pictured above) to become a naturalized citizen, in spite of the fact that Indians were indeed anthropologically Caucasian. Sutherland commented that "the average man knows perfectly well that there are unmistakable and profound differences," clearly implying that “Caucasian” meant “white”. Sutherland chose not to create a new classification, but instead found Indians to be Asian, which made them subject to pre-existing anti-Asian laws passed nationally and in California, due to the influence of the Asiatic Exclusion League. In a final twist to the story, a few years later Thind applied for and received citizenship through the state of New York not long after his original U.S. citizenship was revoked.

[spartan]

Indians cannot be described as single race as its a mix of caucasian, greek, egypt, dravidians and negroid races.

India has large number r2a DNA group thats caucasian and is still exists due to the preservation of caste system.
The Indian caste system is also to protect such descendats of whites.

Iran,afghanistan and Pakistan also has white race roots, unfortunataley all three nations are under destruction.

When alexandar came to India he was met with Indian king who where was white and blonde.


There is a reason why Hitler chose swastika and 'aryan' race protection as he was influenced by Madame Blavatsky who lived in India and founded Theosophical society in Chennai. The earliest references to the word Aryan exists only in India and Iran.

She learned that Indian and European aryans are same and descendant of the one of the seven races (saptarishis).

I would suggest any interested desi to do DNA test and learn their roots