Shelby Purvis
Professor Harmon
ENG 1020
Diagnostic Essay
12/3/15
Racial Controversial
It is thought that race wouldn’t be as such a big deal as it was back in the day. Back in the day, they were separating blacks from whites, and it is understood that of course that doesn’t happen anymore but unfortunately we are facing other racist opinions from people. After Barack Obama being president, one would think that the racial controversy would be down and would be no longer a problem, but it isn’t. People aren’t separated by just whites and blacks anymore, there is much more to it now then just those two.
One thing I know has been a talk around is the Cheerios Super Bowl commercial from 2014. That commercial has stirred up some talk with people considering one child to be both black and white. Funderburg mentions that “In today’s presumably more accepting world, people with complex cultural and racial origins become more fluid and playful with what they call themselves,” (Funderburg). People just haven’t quite gotten over that mixed race. Funderburg involves photographs of children where one can tell they are mixed race because one would see specific features on a certain race but instead it is mixed. Cheerios might have chosen this commercial to try and express that people are not just defined as black and/or just white anymore but that races are combined.
In today’s country, mixed racial babies and/or people are increasing. They have increased so much that Cheerios had a commercial for the Super bowl to show it. Cheerios might have done that commercial to teach everyone that this is how life is, mixed races, no more defining people by one’s race. Most people would see this commercial as a gift or even a cute gesture, when in reality it should be a lesson to the people who discriminate against mixed races. People need to understand that one is not just defined as black or white anymore but as mixed races. Funderburg mentions people with mixed races who call themselves “Blaxican”, “Tracey Williams Bautista says her seven-year-old son, Yoel Chac Bautista, identifies himself as black when he’s with her, his African-American parent. When he’s with his father, he’ll say Mexican,” (Funderburg).
There are other interracial things that are seen on television as well as a television show. A very well-known one is the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air because they are an interracial family; just some people don’t see it. Besides just being interracial with black and white people, another show from the 1950s is “I Love Lucy”. Lucy is considered white while Ricky is Cuban. Lucy and Ricky as a couple is the focal point of the show, ending them in being one of the most memorable and beloved television couples.
Considering how many things are interracial these days, controversy over the whole thing shouldn’t happen. People aren’t just separated by black and white, but also other races which make people unique. As said above, interracial couple or children should not be discriminated against but should be a lesson for people to come to realize how the world is now.
Shelby Lane Purvis 