Why can't my friend get an African-American scholarship?

My friend was born in South Africa, moved to the USA, and applied for multiple African-American scholarships. Each time he got a return letter that denied his application upon the grounds of him being white. Some of them even get nasty asking him if he's joking.

Don't sweat it Obama wouldn't

make it in the clan and he's white,

so much for inner beauty . . .