I try to stay away from controversy on my little baking blog.
I have a philosophy… it’s silly I know.  But I believe that we can all unite over cake.  No matter your beliefs or views or politics, we can all come together and celebrate  with a beautiful and delicious cake.
When I heard that there was a controversy over a Cheerios commercial, I was deeply saddened.
After seeing the commercial, I literally had no idea what the controversy even was! In case you are as blissfully naive as I am, the issue was race.
Some people were upset that the husband was black and the wife was white and that they had an interracial child.
Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
I don’t want to be a part of the appalling silence anymore.
After reading some of the awful comments people have made, it’s clear to see that their minds are not going to be changed through some brief internet interactions. Â I am never going to argue someone into seeing my perspective.
Instead, what I do want to focus on is solutions.
This cake is simple. Â Overly simple some might say, but that was intentional.
I feel like the solution is simple.
Teach love.
I can certainly make sure that I am raising intelligent, well-mannered and considerate young people who understand that our inherent value is not based on appearance.
Simple.
I can model the behavior that I want to see in them. Â I hope that my children will see in me a love for others, regardless of physical appearance. Â I hope that they will remain blissfully ignorant of the pain and destruction caused by prejudice and racism for many, many more years.
  
Maybe we can all make a simple cake for someone you love!
Now. Â Do you want to know how I really feel about segregation?
 Ahem.
Just in case you want to make your own Cheerios Cake here is what I did:
Make the perfect white cake in two 8-in rounds and the best chocolate cake in two 8-in rounds.
I then whipped up a batch of chocolate buttercream to cover the cake.  There is no frosting between the layers.
Using Chocolate Cheerios, I spelled out the word “love”. Â For the individual slice, I just poured some more Chocolate Cheerios over the top to add some texture and depth of flavor.
Wow, I’m bowled over that this is even an issue! Dad, mom, child, Cheerios…what’s not to love?!?
Thanks, Amanda…you rock! XOXO P.S. Love the cake!
xoxoxox
the only thing i noticed in that commercial was the cute little girl. i thought it was 2013!!!!
great post!
Amanda, you are the most amazing person I tell you! I watched the commercial looking over and over for the problem and was blind and naive until I started reading your post, then comments around the net. Your laundry quote is awesome and the thought you put into this cake sheer brilliance! I promise to go buy at least 4 boxes of Cheerios as I raised my babies on those! Love ya sweetie <3
I love you even more for this.
I have seen the commercial and I do not see anything wrong. Why do people think of color? we are all one, created by the same God, leaving all on Earth.
I lovedyour post Amanda, and agree with you 100%.
Well said and you are so right on! Love your thinking and what you wrote and this cake! Love your blog and I can’t imagine anyone not following you because of this! What’s wrong with some people?
I admit that the very first time I saw this commercial, I did notice the lovely mix of mother, father, daughter. I did notice it, but I noticed it in a very happy way. When the commercial was over, I felt rather proud that we have traveled to this point in our society. Hopefully, with your beautiful cake nudging the conversation along, we will continue on a good path. Thank you!
Very well said!! I don’t usually comment on these types of blog posts because they can quickly turn negative, but I wanted to make sure you knew how well that post was written. You hit the nail on the head, and I applaud you for it. It took guts to not just let it go. I am trying to support Cheerios as well as I support JC Penney. Companies who only see love should be celebrated. With cake.
I hadn’t seen the commercial, because I always fast forward through them, but after hearing all the hoopla surrounding it, I had to watch. If people would only be kind and gentle, maybe we wouldn’t have all the wars and our precious young men & women can come home and be with their families, interracial or otherwise!
Amanda, I love your blog and now I love it even more! You rock!!