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Question: What race should i identify myself with!?
My parents are Syrian, Levantine Arabs,
here's a pic of me and my beautiful niece:
http://i485!.photobucket!.com/albums/rr217!.!.!.
http://i485!.photobucket!.com/albums/rr217!.!.!.

EVERY response i get from people is odd about my race, and then my features!. How are we suppose to look!? Black!?
Why do some Arabs look like me!? and others look like Africans!? We arent black, We enslaved them on basis of skin colour!. Anyway my culture is deeply rooted in Arabia, but i look european, what race do i classify myself!? My parents are proud Arabs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
This is tough!. There's no "Arab" section you can select when choosing race on things like registration forms and major tests like the ACT, SAT, CAAP, and C-BASE!.

You're really a cross between Eastern European, Asian, and African!.

As for skin color, the reason some Arabs look like you and some look African is because the ones who look African ARE African! Egyptians, for example, are African and Arabs!. They have darker skin because of the region they come from!. Arabs with darker skin come from areas where the sun is really intense, so over the millenia they've developed darker skin to compensate!. It's like naturally having an SPF 15 sunblock all the time!

Your family comes from the mediteranian area, where skin is naturally more of an olive tint for the same reason!. The sun is a little more intense than in Europe, but not quite as much as in northern Africa!.

As for what race you should identify yourself with, just call yourself Arab, and until we get Arab on the forms, just keep checking "other!."

Your niece is ADORABLE, by the way!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think you should just think of yourself as part of the human race!. We are all part something or other!. I am half Irish and my mother, brother and half of my relations look Spanish!. My fathers mother comes from Holland and we are both blond and blue eyed!. My first husband had a great grandfather who married a ***** lady in Canada so my children have a real melting pot of Heritage!.
If you prefer to be called an Arab just go with that, There is nothing to be embarrassed about!. I just call my self English because that is where I was born but I must admit I feel more Irish as I bought up by mostly Irish relatives!.
It might be an idea to do your family tree, its amazing what you can find out about your family!.
Best of luck!. Lizzy
Ps When I worked for the British Council I met quite a few Arabs and many of them looked just like you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, many Arabs are African but not all Africans are black!. Arabs are considered a semitic people!. To say some fanatical Arab Muslim antisemitic is an oxymoron and I have heard some say that!.
There has been intermarriage between Arab and black Africans and some are definitely mixed!.

You are very handsome and you have a beautiful niece!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com



Erm your middle eastern!?idk i think am not really sure about near n!.african history as im frm west africa!.!.!.!.!.well i kinda look mixed, becuz of chinese in my mums side!.

errrrm!.!.!.!.!.its not abt how u look its more what you are!.!.!.your ancestors like most of us were european!.!.!.but your arabian!.!.!.so your arabian with weak black genes and stronger caucasion genes!.!.!.or somethin!.!.!.!.its a tough situation doe!.

but ive seen half white/ half ethipian ppl who look full white and they ask the same thing on here!.

anyways ur cute :0)Www@QuestionHome@Com

You have answered your question, by saying that your culture is deeply rooted in Arabia, You should identify as Arab and be proud !Www@QuestionHome@Com