A Racial Problem

No the committee originally brought her in to win the scholarship, once her family got there however, she was turned down because they said she was African American and the scholarship was for Irish students. They told her they regret to do this (so they said) and they hope she finds something else. Her father went there and told them who he was and that he was Irish and was able to show proof, records, passports, and the like. Being from a more well to do Irish family in Ireland they were able to maintain all vital records and he was able to produce them. He showed them to the administrator, who said to him, well she doesnt look Irish. He said why not she has red hair and green eyes, then went on to point our that in Ireland people look different all over the place, that they are not all the same, and that may even have more profound differences in some territories but they would not hear of it.

I dont think so, I know for a fact that she had proof and all they would have to say to other blacks is that they would have to prove the same. I think these particular people did not want to be associated with a black person, or admit that this black girl was smarter than all the other applicants, because there was simply no other reason. I am black and I would not nor would my children apply for an Irish scholarship and I am also 1/8th Irish as well. But since I am mostly black and none of my immediate family that I can prove were born there, My great grand pa was Irish, so I have no way of proving it. This is something that is a normal thing for African Americans mixed with another culture, hard to prove it. However this was not the case for her, she had proof that was 100% accurate and could be checked out.

I really wonder if the committee is afraid that if they let this girl in that more blacks will try to apply and then claim discrimination when they are turned down. It could be a reason they are taking the stance they are. Not trying to excuse it, but maybe an explanation?

most irish don't. the most authentically celtic look is dark hair. and short. 7 foot redheads are viking immigrants...

I have heard that. People just associate the reds as Irish and of course Hollywood has to continue that ideal.

Funny thing there, you will laugh she does have green eyes and dark auburn hair.

Oh no! That is the thing, while the scholarship is for Irish people, it is an American company in America who is promoting racism. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I dont want good Irish people saying that I called them racist. The company however who provides the scholarship has an ownership of the children of first US generation Irishmen, who came here and fought discrimination (which is why this is so really bad) and overcame adversity to make successful lives for their children.

I so agree thank you

There are millions of scholarships in the US that are based on a person's nationality, however because of the fact that this is a huge melting pot, almost everyone is something else. Each nationality does this to ensure that their kinsmen get to go to school and require proof, while I see no problem in this, I do see a problem with not allowing a child of Irish nationality to take part in this process, and my question is if the same child had taken on the light skin of her father would they have let her have the scholarship.

I so agree with you, the thing is she has proof that her father is Irish, he still even speaks with his accent, and they dont want to give it to her because they say she is black (African American)

This could be one of those situations where, if you choose to fight, nobody wins. The school loses a quality prospective student, and the student's family pays for the expense of a good lawyer. Since the scholarship has, in all likelihood, been already awarded to another student, does it REALLY MAKE SENSE to fight what promises to be a losing battle? I understand fighting just for the principle of the thing, but there has to come a time when one side or the other just decides to quit simply because they can't stand the fighting any longer. Now, if you could find a good lawyer that would take this on just for the publicity that it would garner, that could change my opinion of taking this battle to the court system, and let the chips fall where they may. Hopefully, the side that is right will prevail.

The Good news is that the girls brother is a law student and has gained the attention of one of his professors who is also a lawyer so there will not be a large expense to the family.

She will but I think her family should fight because she was approved for this before they saw her in person.

Yes, have your heritage but don't pretend you are of that nationality - you are not. Americans that pretend they are Scots are laughed at when they go there. Consider for a moment; an English American? No, it makes no sense, unless it is to mean an Englishman living in USA . all the best urban

While I agree with you about the fact that we are all Americans, I dont think because we are american that means we should not have our heritages, but I do think that if you are going to have a scholarship that says you can recieve it because you are a certain background then you should be able to get it if you prove you are that nationality, you have good grades or test scores, and/or you have financial need. That is all the scholarship people should do. As for being called American, you can say it and I agree, but we will always be classified. I heard one person say once, reading my maiden name from another country not too long ago, she must be Irish, and I even had one person say my ancestors must of been slaves (blacks say this) cause you know there is no way you got no Irish folks. I dont care what I am called anyway, my thing is that this Irish girl should get the scholarship if they can find no other way to not give it to her.

What happens if you have dual citizenship. I am not laughed at when I go home, nor have I been laughed at any where else when I visit, and tons of countries call blacks African American because it is simply easier to recognize that the Africans from Africa are different from the blacks in America. When I visited Ireland I have a cousin there who had never even seen blacks and it helped to understand that while I had some other background I was still American. I dont think that is much of a big deal anyway. I dont care what people decide I am I only care that I am able to be what I think of myself, the same as this young lady, who is proud to be Irish (her father is from Ireland) and West Indian (her mother is from Barbados) she is a first generation American born here in her family.

What if your father is mixed what would you be then. I know that this is silly but in America for the longest time, even if you were caucasion, if you had one drop of black blood that made you a negro. This is also a country where no one is actually a pure blood but many people can still be prejudiced. I remember when I was a child, people would say it didnt matter that I was west Indian, the reason my friends came to me is because I too am West Indian and Irish, but I again could remember that I heard people who thought West Indian meant I wasnt black and they would say really bad things about blacks, and look at me and say well you are not black anyway. This did not happen to me in my home state of Massachusettes but it did happen to me in states further south or in the west of the US. Another thing I learned is that depending on where you were, no one will ever see me as anything but a Black girl, and they would think I was uneducated, I told someone hear I had a Masters and a Doctorate, which can be proven and he goes that he is laughing out loud because he cant believe that. So trust me this country is very prejudiced.

If my father were mixed, but Canadian, I would be a Canadian. But I would be a Canadian of whatever background he was. We still have that hyphenated thing in Canada although there is this official government policy of multi-culturalism, As for being West Indian, I sort of consider people from West India, West Indians, and they do look difference from the African Americans who are mainly from the South of the Sahara, American Indians, with some European here and there. The West Indians appear more European. I think it could be because of those French, English, and Spanish who came there and intermarried. It is true that it depends on where you are, how people think of you. Here it does not matter, but I guess in some of the States they have this past slavery issue and have not grown up yet.

Interesting thank you.

Powerful Statement!