“I didn’t know you liked chocolate”
Dana Judkins,
Shreveport, LA.
I get this a lot when people find out I have a black boyfriend.
You are cute to be dark
Secunda Joseph,
Houston, TX.
I’ve always seen the beauty in myself even as a kid. My brother and I were the darkest of all aunts, and cousins besides my brother, and around family ” I was everything good” one of my several nicknames was chocolate drop. Then kindergarten started what I heard was “with your BLACK self” “you look like a African booty scratcher” and the compliment “you’re cute to be dark” – hence went my confidence. Darkness and Africa became a shame and a flaw. I have to thank God for opening my eyes and allowing me to see the beauty in my dark completion and my African roots #africanamericanconsciousness
“I am chocolate Mama is ice-cream”
Naghmeh Moshtael
Portland, OR
These are my daughter’s words. We live in a world of different race, culture and heritage. My husband in African American, born in Seattle and raised in Compton, CA. I am originally from Iran, raised in Cameroon (Central Africa) and now living in the US. My daughter is adopted from Ethiopia. She is my beautiful, smart and insightful child. So this is how she views her family: she is chocolate, so is Daddy but Mama is ice-cream (i.e. vanilla ice-cream)! I wish that the world was just that simple. Maybe then none of us would be judged by the color of our skin – but the different ingredients of delicious food.! Don’t you want to join my child’s world? I do. Everyday. In between time, the challenge remains to continue to raise her as a world citizen, one who prefers the wellbeing of others over hers.
Chocolate, Vanilla, French Vanilla, Mocha: Family
Jeff Lewis
Vienna, VA
A few years ago my oldest daughter, now eight years old, described the skin color of my wife, me, herself and her younger sister in terms of ice cream flavors.
Norwegian Danish Grandma to all “flavors”
Joann Hansen
Gilbert, AZ
I think we need to learn from the past but rise above and move on…. I let my actions speak for themselves not the hue of my skin. I am Caucasian & I know that I am not racist & that I also judge people by their character and actions. I am a proud Mother of a Hispanic/Caucasian daughter and ADORE my two grandchildren who are of Caucasian/Hispanic/Japanese/African American heritage. THEY are our future.. They are the melding of many wonderful cultures… I LOVE how they classify us – Chocolate, Caramel and Vanilla :0)
