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Curious - what check-box do most Jews use when there is a race/ethnicity question?
I assume "White" (last time I dealt with the question, "White" was defined as "non-Hispanic whites including people from Europe and Middle-East" and Jews originated in the Middle East.)
In the 1980s, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Jews are a race, at least for purposes of certain anti-discrimination laws. Their reasoning: at the time these laws were passed, people routinely spoke of the "Jewish race" or the "Italian race" as well as the "Negro race," so that is what the legislators intended to protect. But many Jews were deeply offended by that decision, offended by any hint that Jews could be considered a race. The idea of Jews as a race brings to mind nightmarish visions of Nazi Germany, where Jews were declared to be not just a race, but an inferior race that had to be rounded up into ghettos and exterminated like vermin. But setting aside the emotional issues, Jews are clearly not a race. Race is a genetic distinction, and refers to people with shared ancestry and shared genetic traits. You can't change your race; it's in your DNA. I could never become black or Asian no matter how much I might want to. Common ancestry is not required to be a Jew. Many Jews worldwide share common ancestry, as shown by genetic research; however, you can be a Jew without sharing this common ancestry, for example, by converting. Thus, although I could never become black or Asian, blacks and Asians have become Jews (Sammy Davis Jr. and Connie Chung).
It depends though which scientific environment you grew or live in. One I grew in, would classify true genetic Yehuda as Caucasians. And they do look like Caucasians, along with their Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian and other endemic to Caucasus region peoples.
I'd not call them whites. Whites are Europoids, Jews are Caucasoids. Simply look into a mirror.
But hey, according to the quote, you are not a race to start with, so it's a null question.
Probably the appropriate box for whichever applies to the individual.
I know a frum young lady who was born in China. She probably checks "Asian". Her mother probably checks "white".
What would Sammy Davis, Jr., have checked?
These are outliers and not that important.
I bet a majority of Jews don't check Asian or Black even if they are from Asia (Middle East) or Africa. But I don't know, so I am asking.
EDIT: I realize this may be an impolite question for the forum. But I am hoping it is more tolerable in the anonymity of the internet than going up to somebody and asking them!!
I generally check "White" or "Asian." I have also, in the past, checked "Other" and explained "Jewish." My answer mostly depends on what categories are offered, although I have occasionally based my answer on a futile attempt at consistency. Looking at a global map, I suppose that "Asian" has been the best answer for most Jews.
In general, I regard "race," particularly broken down into only a few categories, as a crock of ****. Nevertheless, it is not 100% wasted.
Anyone remember Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid? That was the last word on all of humanity.
EDIT: I realize this may be an impolite question for the forum. But I am hoping it is more tolerable in the anonymity of the internet than going up to somebody and asking them!!
Thank you for your concern. I'll answer the question by saying that I don't check any race boxes for myself at all ā just to be contrary.
I bet a majority of Jews don't check Asian or Black even if they are from Asia (Middle East) or Africa. But I don't know, so I am asking.
EDIT: I realize this may be an impolite question for the forum. But I am hoping it is more tolerable in the anonymity of the internet than going up to somebody and asking them!!
Well, Sammy and my friend's adopted daughter might be outliers, but most of the Jewish people I know had ancestors who came from places like Hungary, Netherlands, France, so I think "white" is probably a fairly common choice and not an outlier.
But, along with others, I believe having to check a "race" is stupid to begin with--for anyone, not just Jewish people.
We all had our DNA done in our family. One niece is 60% white, 35% African-American, and 5% Native American.
There are people who would look at her and see a black woman. Which box should she check?
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