Am I a Caucasian mom?

[conniecabe]

 Am I a Caucasian mom, a white mom, just plain old mom or what? When my kids look at me whom do they see?  Recently, there has been discussion of a group that was started for “Caucasian” moms…the café mom team removed it because they thought it was racist.  Is it racist?   This has me thinking…I never think of myself as “white”.  (Although few people are paler than me.) Mostly my very olive skinned Italian husband has called me “whitey”.  An ex-boyfriend’s sister has called me “wetta”…but I’ve never thought of my self as “white.” Yes…. I mark the “Caucasian” box when I apply for jobs…but otherwise the word isn’t one I use very much.  When I think of myself and what I am, ethnically speaking, …I don’t see white.  I see Irish, Polish, and Luxembourg.  Maybe that’s the difference.  Yes there are boards for Latino moms; African-American moms, Asian moms…but they are speaking of their heritage…not the color of their skin.  Maybe that’s the catch.  While I may be Caucasian…I am more over a European mutt…but that’s me.  When you think of what makes you who you are…what do you see? Is having a Caucasian board racist?  I guess I would have to see what topics were being discussed and what things united us as “Caucasians” before making that judgment.  But in the meantime…maybe the answer is to find common ground with everyone…no matter the color of his or her skin…because in the end…we won’t be judged by our outward appearance…

[Melyn]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 1:22 PM well said.  I think your on to something there. 

[shelllynn]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 1:24 PM I honestly dont believe that having a group based on ones skin color is right.  But here is my complaint.  If we can have "african american " , "latinos", "muslim moms"  then what is so bloomin wrong with having a "caucasian" group.  There are so many that judge simply by race it is ridiculous.  After all racism is juding based on ones skin tone, heritage, etc. etc.  So now my question is does this make cafemom racist?  Seems to me that all groups based on race should be deleted!

[y3sitsm3]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 1:25 PM i agree

[kateandjona]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 1:30 PM The difference lies in the difference between race and ethnicity.   "Caucasian" refers to race, not ethnicity.  However, "German" or "Irish" refers to ethnicity.  Therefore, if  a "Latino" group is permitted, it would stand to reason that a "German" group would be as well ...

[bobthepepperma]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 1:34 PM Well, I am so "white" that I make Casper look tan.  I am just an incredibly pale person.  But I don't really think about it.  I am part Polish, German (Pennsylvania Dutch), English, and Irish... and many parts still unknown.  (My siblings and I are lame, we are planning on making a T-shirt with a pie chart explaining what portions of our heritage are what, but I still need to track down certain parts of our family.)  So instead of "white" pride, take the time and energy to learn where your family came from and take pride in that!  Along the way you will learn about things that members of your family did that you can share with your children and grandchildren.  (I have learned that I have 3 direct ancestors that I know of that fought in the Civil War, all union, and that 2 of them died in the war.  One I found out was taken as a prisoner of war and executed.)

[Momof04girls]

Apr. 24, 2007 at 5:04 PM

See I think the problem lies with AA moms can use 1 label where we are a bigger mix we have so many different backgrounds mixed ,white, pale complexion,caucasian would be easiest. I know what the mom wanted and it was not to be racist nor to infer anything like that. her board was to welcome evreyone. she just did not want to hop around from skin care to haircare to other boards. She has a fair complected DD and a bi-racial child . She goes to biracial board for her one and thought it would be nice to have a board for her other. what if you have 6 different ethncity in you aqnd just want to belong to a board for say fair complected can't use that because again that  is skin color. I don't think its racist I just thinks its a double standard.

Mia

[ltnbrn]

Apr. 26, 2007 at 10:00 PM In today's society, having a group labeled white or Caucasian automatically has the connotation of being racist or supremacist. We can thank the KKK, Aryan Nation, etc. etc., for that. Is it fair? No. But it's reality. All the women arguing saying it's discrimination to ban the group, it's racist, etc., can't seem to distinguish what's fair from what's reality. Until "white pride" no longer rings of Hitler-esque values, I don't think we should have such groups. It would be the right thing to do to wait until we are all on a level playing field.

[daisyfrogflop]

May. 1, 2007 at 11:15 AM Well said friend. Let's cut the label nonsense. Can't we all just get along? Peace.

[CoplienM]

May. 8, 2007 at 6:00 PM Don't feel bad. I'm so white you wouldn't even know I was Asian.  But my heritage and whether or not my skin color goes with it does not take away the fact that I am. In ideal world, we would not have any of these groups. But we are far from an ideal world. We are slowly fixing it, and one day our children will get to live in that ideal world.

[alliecat1881]

Jul. 23, 2007 at 9:12 PM I think different nationalities tend to have different parenting ideas, same goes for different religions.  I agree that a group should be based on nationality rather than skin color.  We European breeds are just such mixes a group doesn't exist.  Where's my Italian/German/Welsh American moms!!  I like that we all have different traditions and cultures.  I would hate if America really did become a "melting pot".