Dental School Student Expelled Because Not Black Enough For African American.
The use of the term "African American" became a popular "self" description, popularized in 70's and considered by many of the intellectual and elite American Descendants Of African slaves a term of pride. Now, once considered the key phrase for documenting the achievements and culture of Black Americans. Today it has opened the Pandora's Box on race issues and depending on the outcome of a federal lawsuit, African American could very well change the criteria for who is both African and uniquely American.
Since 1970, what critics have described as ignorance, and supporters consider tradition the accepted definition of an African American was exclusive only to citizens of the United States who had origins among the black populations of Africa and the direct descendants of captive Africans who survived the slavery era within the boundaries of the present United States.
However, Paulo Serodio disagrees, born and raised in Mozambique and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Serodio, 45, chose to identify himself as White African American. Instead, he has set the blogs on fire with debates and now it will left up the the courts. He filed a discrimination lawsuit against a New Jersey medical school, claiming he was harassed and ultimately suspended for choosing to identify himself as a white African-American. The lawsuit, which asks for Serodio's reinstatement at the school and monetary damages, named the Newark-based University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and several doctors and university employees as defendants.
Filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, the lawsuit traces a series of events that Serodio maintains led to his 2007 suspension. Ironically, according to allegations, it all began with a March 2006 cultural exercise in a clinical skills course taught by Dr. Kathy Ann Duncan. According to the plaintiff, each student was asked to define themselves for a discussion on culture and medicine.
Serodio said when he was asked to define himself culturally as part of a course exercise. He chose "white African-American. After Serodio labeled himself as a white African-American, another student said she was offended by his comments and that, because of his white skin, was not an African-American. "It's crazy," said Serodio's attorney Gregg, Zeff "Because that's what he is." Serodio, who lives in Newark, said he never meant to offend anyone and calling himself African-American doesn't detract from another person's heritage.
The lawsuit states, Serodio was summoned to Duncan's office where he was instructed "never to define himself as an African-American … because it was offensive to others and to people of color for him to do so."
He alleges he was called to the course instructor's office and told never to define himself that way again. "I wouldn't wish this to my worst enemy," he said. "I'm not exaggerating. This has destroyed my life, my career."
The lawsuit if favored for the plaintiff, could effect other immigrants from Africa who prefer to be called white. Egypt, is a country in North Africa, however, Egyptian immigrants who become naturalized citizens, prefer to be identified as white.Thus far, the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union have yet to comment.
