So you're African American if your dad is African American and your mom is Asian American, but Asian American if it's the other way around?

When it comes to "an Asian American saying they're African American" or whatever, yes the name of the applicant (and therefore the race of the parent whose last name they have) would probably affect their ability to get away with claiming they're a different race.

What? Even if you believe there is such a thing as human races, how would having a African American parent not make you African American?

Dividing humans into different races just an insane concept that has no place in the 21st century.

These aren't the divisions I would make, I was specifically referring to your question in the parent post about an Asian simply claiming to be black to bypass discrimination. I was pointing out that other factors, such as names, would be used whenever possible to still be able to discriminate against even those who tried to hide or falsify their race.

I am not arguing that such discrimination or racial categories are valid.

But there must be some less arbitrary way to apply this discrimination? If there's no clear definition how are they falsifying their race? An Asian American could claim their ancestors came from Africa and they would not be wrong...

Other countries have official recognized minorities which you get from your parents, or use the birth nationality of your (grand)parents.