https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:13:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827812 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:23:42 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 827812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: no, that part was just personal experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827808 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:22:08 +0000 citymouse 827808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yeah, I replied to @ZippyLeaf that I need to watch more TV! ;-) And as I already said, I definitely agree that its ridiculous the way people are reacting. Don't know if you were replying to me specifically about not knowing which kids belong to which parent regardless of race, but of course I dont either. How could you possibly? Hope there hasn't been a miscommunication between us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827616 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:48:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 827616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Ha, you &amp; DH would get along great! Seems like you have similar taste in music ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827611 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:46:49 +0000 daniellemybelle 827611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: He's definitely better off for it! He can code switch for sure, but I think he is really secure in his own identity now because of his experiences! And oh man, DH is all about the invisible knapsack, haha. He references it in his diversity work all the time. I guess I need to go ahead and read that book so I know what he's talking about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827609 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:45:55 +0000 mrsjazz 827609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: Same here on code switching.</p> <p>@daniellemybelle: Great response to @Mrs. Polish:, I 100% agree, difference is special :) And about your DH never feeling "Black enough" that was me for quite a long time because I never fit in in my neighborhood because I was bussed to schools that were mostly white &amp; Asian. The girls in my neighborhood looked at me funny when I was singing Bon Jovi :) </p> <p>One of the comments one of the Cheerios commercial articles was someone saying that the commercial made him want to go eat some Oreos. O_o </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827607 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:45:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 827607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: @BKCaribBaby: very eloquent description of your experiences. I never quite learned how to switch it up, so I stay mum around most black folks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827591 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:39:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 827591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: no way, he was too calm and cool. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827576 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:32:01 +0000 BKCaribBaby 827576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I can imagine it was hard for your DH. I went to very wealthy predominantly white high school but lived in a majority black working class neighborhood. I had to be able to code switch and survive in both worlds, which wasn't always fun or easy. Let's just say that I would comfortable at both a Jay-Z and a Coldplay concert. :) Great book recommendation, btw.</p> <p>@Mrs. Polish: Who told you that?! That is beyond weird. In addition to Danielle's book, I would also recommend an article called "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh. I know the title is odd, but it might be some further food for thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827530 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:12:37 +0000 Mrs. Polish 827530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I agree. I don't know anyone else with a family dynamic similar to ours. Thank you for the recommendations, again. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827503 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:03:59 +0000 daniellemybelle 827503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: Respectfully, I'd say that Isaiah IS different. Being adopted makes him different, and being black with white parents makes him different. Difference isn't bad - it's special! But it is something that will affect him so it makes sense to be prepared.</p> <p>I babysat for two kids that were black with white parents, and they really liked the book "It's Okay To Be Different." They would ask to read it and I think it made them feel special and proud! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827495 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:02:13 +0000 FancyGem 827495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. some people have too much time on their hands. the first thing I thought is, 'that little girl is cute'.<br /> I can't believe that this is a big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827486 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:59:28 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 827486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: White on the inside is an Oreo. Don't even try to fight it because it an absolutely stupid comment. I have been called Oreo my entire life and I other things to basically suggest I am less black. I am not pretending to be someone or something I am not. @evansjamie: Sorry people stopped being your friend. I don't think it's appearance , but I think people act and speak a certain way based on their surroundings. There were 5 black girls in my elementary grade, two of were biracial. We all had long hair. Well one of the biracial girls I got a relaxer in 4th or 5th grade and declared to the rest of us full black girls we would have to get one too. We asked her why? She told I us if she since she was half-white and needed one then we definitely would need one. The silliness is on all sides. I know for certain two of us never got a relaxer and the third just had a keratin treatment to tame her super thick, but "mixed" texture hair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827476 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:55:39 +0000 Mrs. Polish 827476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: thank you for the book recommendation! Someone send me a link to a book called Brown Babies Pink Parents that I'm interested to read. Dh feels like it's unnecessary to read about it because we shouldn't treat Isaiah like he's different (which we never would), but when I see people react like they did about the commercial I know that at some point we'll have to try to help Isaiah with it so I want to figure it out now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827436 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:42:07 +0000 daniellemybelle 827436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: @ladyfingers: @mrsjazz: I thought of Hunger Games too. It was absolutely astonishing how many young, "normal" people were tweeting that they were mad that Rue was an N-word. I wish this kind of thing was only on the fridges, but bigotry is alive and well. The internet just facilitates it.</p> <p>@Mrs. Polish: Identity is hard as a person of color no matter what, though adoption adds a layer for sure. DH is black but has been told he is not "black enough" because he likes skiing and The Fray, haha. I joke but it was very hard for him when he was younger, and he has two African-American parents who raised him to be proud of his heritage, so its something Isaiah would deal with to some degree regardless. He's blessed to have loving and supportive parents who will help him be exactly who he is. :) </p> <p>I'd highly recommend a book called "Why Do All The Black Kids Sit Together In The Cafeteria?" It might be hard to read (it was for me &amp; I'm half Hispanic) but it's great food for thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827397 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:31:21 +0000 MsLipGloss 827397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: The Subaru commercial . . . the kids are ridiculously cute, but I don't think the father's reaction (to soap and toothpaste being used *inside* the car!) is normal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827392 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:30:33 +0000 avivoca 827392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: Aren't we all just people? Do people act a certain way just because they look closer to a certain race? I wouldn't know what to do with that comment either. </p> <p>I will say that I had black friends in high school who didn't really want anything to do with me after they found out I was mixed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827385 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:28:59 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 827385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When Maxwell House coffee aired a commercial with an unmarried couple (no wedding bands) that created an uproar in the '80s. I am not shocked seeing a biracial family is causing an uproar, but I am surprised this seems to be the first commercial featuring an interracial couple.</p> <p>There was a car commercial a few months ago with a dad and two kids and all of them liked biracial. The kids were adorabke waking the car with the windows down. Suds in and outside of the car. I remember watching the commercial and thinking we have come along way, but it wasn't an entire family depicted so we still had more work to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827369 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:24:00 +0000 Mrsbells 827369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: @Mrs. Polish: Thanks for updating me. I am surprised this commericial would ignite such a response. I thought everyone was much more open minded </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827356 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:20:08 +0000 regberadaisy 827356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: "The commercial features a girl asking her white mother if Cheerios is good for the heart, then dumping the box of cereal on her sleeping father, who is black."</p> <p><a href="http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2013/06/interracial_couple_child_in_ch.html" rel="nofollow">http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2013/06/interracial_couple_child_in_ch.html</a></p> <p>@Mrs. Polish: I hate that comment so much. What does it even mean that he will be "white" inside? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827355 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:19:53 +0000 plantains 827355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: :( That is just so awful. I can't believe that anyone would say that in front of an LO. I don't even know how one deals with a situation like that. Your DH is admirable for being cool, I would have lost it. What really sucks is that as they get older and can eventually understand, we have to figure out how to explain it to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827351 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:19:36 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 827351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I bet you'll find this (sad) and funny. My Indian friend went to hajj (Muslin girl) with her husband. Her husband is American and white. Well, on the way back, the Saudi government wouldn't let him take her home on the plane because they thought he was kidnapping her! They thought, 'nooo, an Indian and a white guy?!' Anyways- she had to explain to them that she was getting on that plane on her free will and was not being abducted by her fake husband.</p> <p>This commercial is very normal? I don't even understand why or how anyone even batted a lash. I honestly did not. I did notice they were biracial, and I didn't care at all... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827344 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:17:37 +0000 Mrs. Polish 827344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: the commercial shows a biracial family. I didn't see the comments so I don't know exactly what was said. They were racist comments though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827341 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:16:03 +0000 Mrs. Polish 827341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: absolutely! He's a charmer :)</p> <p>I've been told that Isaiah will have a really hard time as he gets older because "he will be white on the inside". I don't even know what to do with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827336 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:14:46 +0000 immabeetoo 827336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: that makes me sick! so sorry you &amp; your family had to experience that.</p> <p>I'm glad Cheerios made the commercial and hope that more businesses continue to advertise as they should... to all families not just white, heterosexual ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827333 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:13:23 +0000 avivoca 827333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't seen that commercial, but I want to know exactly how big of a rock those who are complaining are living under. I hate that we're still dealing with racism in 2013.</p> <p>@Anagram: That article infuriated me. I have been extremely lucky in my lifetime to never have things like that happen, especially having grown up in that area, but now I wonder how many times people saw my sister and I with our mother (who is black), and didn't say anything because they though she was our nanny or the help? Do they still have a problem when they see us together? Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827323 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:10:54 +0000 Mrsbells 827323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: I havent seen this commercial. How come people are complaining about it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827320 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:09:42 +0000 BKCaribBaby 827320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: I"ve already been asked if my daughter is my baby (I'm waiting for the nanny ask), but I can only imagine some of the questions and statements you'll get. Crazy world, isn't it? I think we just need to expose our kids to as much as possible. </p> <p>P.S. Isaiah is adorable and 1 month older than my daughter, who is pretty cute if I do say so myself. :) Can we do an arranged marriage? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827318 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:07:59 +0000 regberadaisy 827318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: omg I love her response!</p> <p>@BKCaribBaby: agreed.</p> <p>People think racism does not exist any more? Think again. People have just gotten better at masking it bc it's no longer socially acceptable. As the Asian in a inter racial marriage we have gotten our fair share of "looks" even in a big city like NYC.</p> <p>First time someone says something to my child they will get a earful from me!</p> <p>To answer your OP I didn't even know there was a Cheerios controversy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827317 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:07:41 +0000 ladyfingers 827317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Holy shit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cheerios-controversy/page/2#post-827314 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:06:56 +0000 mrsjazz 827314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: Oh man, I remember all of that nonsense with Rue and the Hunger Games. What book were these people reading?!?! </p> <p>@plantains: Basically, some stupid guys who walked past my DH and LO (in her stroller) commented very loudly about how dark that side of the street was and that they should cross to the other side. I was really sad that they said that shit in front of my baby, not that she could understand, but still.</p> <p>@Anagram: I hadn't heard about this. Ridiculous! </p>