What is the precise number of black racial groups of Africa?

Question

Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity; Notices Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices, Page 58789 at

1. Categories and Definitions

defines

Black or African American.

as

A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

and

White.

as

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Questions:

1. What is the precise number of "black racial groups of Africa"?

2. Does the omission of the term "racial groups of" from the definition of "White" imply that
   a) "White" is a single "racial group";
   b) "White" is not a "racial group";
   c) the term "racial groups" is inapplicable in whole or part as to the definition of "White"?

3. What is the legal distinction between the terms "racial groups of" that is used when defining "Black or African American" and "original peoples of" that is used when defining "White"?

Answer 1

I am pretty sure that the meaning of this is more "Let's avoid a discussion about the demographics of Africa, whatever you think the groups are does not matter at all" than "We have a fully defined list of groups and if yours is not in that list then you cannot define yourself as 'Black'" -@SJuan76

There is no theory (in any discipline) of the number of black racial groups in Africa, so precision or even reasonable approximation is impossible. Directive 15 is not based on science, so you'd just get bloviative answers ranging from 1 to 1000 (maybe more). The rationale behind the wording is to exclude white South Africans and North African Arab / Berber people, who are slotted elsewhere -- also to exclude non-African blacks from India etc. -@user6726

Answer 2

One

All people in Africa irrespective of their skin colour are part of the race known as homo sapiens.