I know this has absolutely nothing to do with my cancer and chemo story but since I also discuss my family in this blog, I had to comment on the Cheerios commercial with the interracial couple (and the very adorable little girl).  Apparently there has been backlash against this commercial.  Really? It’s 2013.  When will things change?

I remember when I was dating my husband over 22 years ago and the negative comments that we received from both white people and Hispanics (never our families though).   Some people (white) would give me advice that included telling me that “all Puerto Rican men cheat on their women” and other stereotypical nonsense like that.  Hispanic women would confront my husband and ask if Hispanic women weren’t good enough for him and why was he seeing a white girl.

When my children were young and I was out alone with them, I got a lot of stares.  People asked if my children were mine?????  Yes, I gave birth to the three of them.  No, they don’t look much like me (not a green eyed, fair skinned one in the bunch), but they are a part of me and I love them.  About a year ago, I was out with my daughter (who is now 15) and a woman approached us, stated that my daughter was beautiful and she had beautiful hair (I agree) and then asked if Gillian was my daughter.  Can’t you see the resemblance?  LOL.  She may not look like me, but she is very much like me.

When Xavier was a young child , he came home from school and asked me what color he was.  Instead of answering, I asked what color he thought he was.  Xavier answered by saying that he was “pancake colored” and that was and still is the perfect answer. It’s not all brown and white!  I couldn’t have come up with anything better.

My son Christian is dating a girl who is also mixed race.  It’s great to see.  Every time I see an interracial couple, I smile. I always thought that the easiest way to end racism was for more interracial couples to marry and have beautiful mixed race children who would hopefully love all of their parts and not be taught to hate any part of themselves.  My husband and I taught our children to love themselves and not to judge others based on what is outside but what is inside and based on their wide circle of friends, I think they’ve learned well.

I have just one more comment on the Cheerios commercial.  It would have been nice to have seen “mom and dad” together in the commercial.  Or can the majority of America not handle that?

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