What with “cracker babies” being all over the news lately, they are apparently such a hot item that everybody wants one!
Geneticists are at a loss to explain this one! She is not an albino and the parents have no known white ancestry.
The parents are treating the birth with faith, joy, and humor!
Mum Angela, 35, of Woolwich, South London, beamed as she said: “She’s beautiful – a miracle baby.”
Ben told yesterday how he was so shocked when Nmachi was born, he even joked: “Is she MINE?”
He added: “Actually, the first thing I did was look at her and say, ‘What the flip?'”
But as the baby’s older brother and sister – both black – crowded round the “little miracle” at their home in South London, Ben declared: “Of course she’s mine.”
Blue-eyed blonde Nmachi, whose name means “Beauty of God” in the Nigerian couple’s homeland, has baffled genetics experts because neither Ben nor wife Angela have ANY mixed-race family history.
Pale genes skipping generations before cropping up again could have explained the baby’s appearance.
Ben also stressed: “My wife is true to me. Even if she hadn’t been, the baby still wouldn’t look like that.
“We both just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages – not saying anything.”
Nature is a funny thing. May God bless their family.
July 20, 2010 at 12:10 pm
How interesting, is she albino i wonder?
In need of a translation here though, what's a "white cracker"? I've heard the term before on American blogs.
Is it a term of abuse?
July 20, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I think it's a term used by blacks to refer (negatively) to white people. Since the writer is white he can use it (just like blacks can use negro). Actually, blacks can use any terms they want in any context and it's never racist, however, my using negro in a definition is racist. :p
July 20, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Have they done genetic studies?
The article says she is not an albino, and I guess they can tell that because there is some color in her eyes. Also, she doesn't have a negroid hair type either. I have seen albino negroes(on the subway in New York City), and they have light blond negroid type hair.
But I just don't see how this is possible. Did they see this baby emerge from this woman? Or is this a hospital mix up?
I'd want to see genetic studies proving that she is their child before I would believe this.
But in any case, I am sure they will love this baby and be fine parents for her.
July 20, 2010 at 2:27 pm
No matter how the science comes out, I love the man's response. And, his utter faith in his wife. Now that's a man.
July 20, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Oh, sorry. I've just noticed that the article says that she's not albino. She certainly doesn't look albino, she looks blond and blue eyed rather than being completely lacking in melanin.
Back to the term "cracker", does it refer specifically to POOR white people?
Thank you to Christina for your explanation.
I think the nomenclature issue around race is even more daft in America than it is here. "African American" is a silly and meaningless term which is starting to creep over here, but ONLY when referring to black Americans. A black guy from the UK is just called a black guy, not an "African Englishman". Potty.
July 20, 2010 at 3:22 pm
They may find after several months that the baby's skin colour will darken. My neighbours niece (white) married a very dark African American Man. Their daughter was very light at birth, but within a few weeks had darkened quite significantly.
This baby is beautiful (as all children are) and has similar facial features to her brother & sister.
July 20, 2010 at 3:23 pm
One other thing ( I'm chatty today!) other than the colour, the hair itself is not atypical of negroid babies who often have smooth silky hair. It coarsens as they get a bit older.
July 20, 2010 at 4:23 pm
According to wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_%28pejorative%29) it is, but I think the term has lost some of the class distinction it used to have: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cracker
I agree that the term African-American is stupid and have been trying to deprogram myself from using it. I know too many blacks who are either not from Africa and/or not American.
July 20, 2010 at 4:29 pm
"Cracker" is an insulting term used to describe poor ignorant whites; it's a derogatory term no matter who uses it, and I'm disappointed to see it here.
July 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm
"The Jerk" Steve Martin, "It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child…"
I don't know a lot of crackers who have a problem with that term. It's weird – like an insult that just doesn't work. I know that it is SUPPOSED to be insulting but, for some reason, isn't. It's like honkey. Now, have you ever heard of a guy who "threw down" and got into a fight for being called a honkey?
When I was a kid, I distinctly remember having a few words with a black friend of mine on the bus. I was angry and he was angry. We were inches from each others' face (I believe it was about spit ball guns…) Anyway. He called me a.. HONKEY! I suddenly burst out laughing so hard! I thought it was hilarious. So I called him a "poo poo head" and he hit me. But as we fought, I kept laughing and saying "Hit me I'm a honkey! Honk honk!" (Friends again by the next day….kids…)
One of my best friends now is an American raised mostly in England but born in Jamaica. Once I referred to him as an "African American" and he said, "Dude. Don't call me that. I'm not an African American. I'm a black man." I replied, "No you're not. Black men don't say, Dude." (Luckily I did not get hit that time.)
July 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Siobhan
I think that Patrick is using the term ironically in light of a recent news item where that phrase was used by a militant Black Panther.
Barbara Curtis of the MommyLife blog refers to herself in her biog as having been a "poor white cracker girl" so I was curious about what that meant.
Christina
Thanks for the links, I'll take a look at them.
July 20, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Siobhan – I said the same thing. It was really disappointing to see it used by this blog. And my post was deleted for simply mentioning this.
Not too cool.
July 20, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Just in case I wasn't clear, I was speaking tongue in cheek when I said it was OK for whites to use. I think it's quite inappropriate for any group to refer to others with such terms (I always wince when I hear blacks calling each other nigers, women calling each other whores and such). However, in this case, I thought it was quite obvious he was using it ironically.
July 20, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Christina I understand the attempt at humor and irony. I just think it's inappropriate to refer to ANY baby in a derrogatory way. It was sickening when the new black panther leader made the comment. Is it any less inappropriate when used in a joke?
Rather than taking the Wayans path of humor, maybe they could have said, "the NAACP's gonna love this one…" or something referencing the comment without making it. Either way, this is one beautiful baby, as are all babies.
July 20, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Early Riser
You may have a point, but just speaking for myself I'm heartily fed up with policing of manners of speech etc.
I think it's having the opposite of the desired effect on me and I find myself using provocative language that I wouldn't ordinarily choose, just to make the point that I won't be told what I am and what I am not allowed to say.
Language is boring as hell when it's over sanitised and edited for pc offences.
July 20, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Clare – that's the beauty of the 1st ammendment and the guarantees we have of free speech. You can say whatever you want. Just be aware there are consequences to your speech. Our Lord was very clear on this, and I'd rather err on the side of caution especially when dealing with children.
And FYI, language is only as boring as the speaker.
July 20, 2010 at 8:04 pm
C@BOR:
"I think that Patrick is using the term ironically in light of a recent news item where that phrase was used by a militant Black Panther."
BINGO! We have a winner! (Albeit maybe more sardonically than ironically.)
"Language is only as boring…." huh? what? I fell asleep reading that last part, E.R.
BTW, they are a beautiful family!
July 21, 2010 at 3:09 am
If you look closely at the mother-the baby actually looks a lot like her. All her features are the mothers, she's just light. She is so precious.
July 21, 2010 at 9:15 am
It's my understanding that "cracker" is in reference to the slave owners and their use of the whips that "cracked".
I never thought the term applied to me since I wasn't ever a slave owner nor have I never cracked a whip. Besides, it is ridiculous.
And, yes, just "black" please. No more of this PC crud. I notice colour but I don't judge it.
July 21, 2010 at 5:21 pm
This may help with the answer for where the term cracker came from.
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fcc/main/what's_a_cracker.htm