African American Children & children of color missing from Y&R

[DEELUVSTONY]

If Mariah does give birth and the baby is ok it will be the first AA baby (technically bi-racial but...) born in several years on the because of Sorasing Moses to 16 that means 16 years since an AA child was born in GC and another thing I have realized other than Sophia I don't think an AA woman has given birth since Drucilla I believe. Lily had her children with a Caucasian surrogate, Abby will be the mother of Devon's baby. Is there something against women of color having babies? Even Juliette who was Asian died in childbirth and Sam was written out. Hilary and her baby both died. There would have been an opportunity to have Elena get pregnant by Devon or Nate and possibly they could have written a pregnancy with Amanda. We know Lily cannot have children. Lola thought briefly she might be pregnant but wasn't. Ray's ex wife had a baby but was written out and the birth was off screen. Lily's kids are now grown and off screen.

I am not saying the show is being purposefully racist in some way just wondering why do few children of color or women of color becoming mothers and giving birth
on screen. It's part of my reason for not liking the Abby baby story is Devon's first born child being given to a white couple especially after the death of Hilary and what would have been his first born child.

[Angeldar]

I don't think it has anything to do with who is white having babies or who is AA. It's just the way the stoylines are. You don't know that Elenea or Amanda will end up pregnant eventually, in fact, it was thought a few times, in light of Elena messing around, that she would become pregnant. I don't see any of this being an issue and I don't think they should make it happen just to say it did. I don't think the writers are thinking along these lines and making it a competition of sorts.

[Rubythroat1]

What about brown and Asian children? If it comes down to that. Native North American?

[Soapfan54]

Rubythroat1 As a Black person, I would not presume to speak for the other historically marginalized racial groups of America--and would hope that They would reciprocate the courtesy. I've long been saying that We, collectively, should sit down together for a round table confab. I actually would be very interested to hear Their input on the subject! But a better question would be, WHY are there SO MANY marginalized groups of Color in America? And WHY are they being under-represented? It sort of gives validity to the thread topic query... JMO

[bronxgal]

Rubythroat1 the OP mentioned Mia, I mentioned Keemo. I would love and indigenous character on the show. But as of now the next generation is white. I would love if Mia came back and said the kid I really Rey’s or if Sam somehow returned.

[bronxgal]

Devon is biracial but realistically his child with Abby would look white.

Lily could have been given any other type of cancer but they gave her the one that robs her of ever being pregnant. And now she helps take care of Billy’s kids.

Mia was pregnant but written off. I know Rey wants children so that should come up for him eventually.

Both Amanda and Elena need to begin having families too.

And of course the child that can never be mentioned again, Keemo could have stayed around and given Jack his first grandchild.

I don’t know if it is purposely done but it is glaring.

[aussiegal87]

I thought the show was heading to a double "who's the daddy" between Nate, Devon, Elena, and Amanda. I was surprised when neither Amanda Or Elena became pregnant. It sure seemed like they were setting it up, and after all that, the only thing that happened was Nathan's hand was injured, which was kind of a let down.

Devon is biracial but realistically his child with Abby would look white.

True, but this could be part of the story. Stitch is a doctor he may have been working at that fertility lab in Iowa and was the one who fertilized Abby's egg with sperm. He could have substituted his sperm for Devon's to replicate the baby he and Abby lost.

Maybe that's where there are going because although Neil is Devon's father, his biological father Tucker was fair and blond, so was grandmother Kay. Devon's grandfather Arthur Hendricks was fair but brunette. And Abby is very fair and very blond. So they could very well do a DNA switch story if they want to.

[DEELUVSTONY]

It is possible Devon's child will be light complected certainly probably not dark complected or wouldn't be in real life but in reel life it's possible they could use a darker complected child I've seen it happen that way before. I know a mixed couple and the wife was dark complected but the baby was quite fair almost white and an AA couple with one parent very dark complected and the other somewhat light but not to the point of looking white who had a very fair complected child and there are cases of twins and one looks white and the other looked AA so....

[CouchCruisin']

Devon is biracial but realistically his child with Abby would look white.

Realistically, the baby could take on the pigmentation of Devon's birth mother. It could go either way.

[kirkelash]

bronxgal - Reminding you about the one drop of black blood rule in the US. Looking at Neil and Drucilla a person would have to know that these people have some black blood in them and are not full blooded black people. Sure bi-racial folks usually identify with black people because thats who accept them. Viewers and I guess TPTB see then as black but mixed race people like myself know better. I don't speak from a Genetics experts probabilities, I honestly am speaking from personal experience.

[Soapfan54]

You're absolutely right, CouchCruisin' Genes have a mind of their own and that baby's could reach back and grab Yolanda Hamilton's!

For example, My youngest grand-baby very much favors my great aunt (my grandmother's sister). My great aunt is my granddaughter's great-grand aunt, fifth-generation.

[klalala]

DNA has been know to surprise Everyone... Just sayin'

[Shalaydra75]

If Mariah does give birth and the baby is ok it will be the first AA baby (technically bi-racial but...) born in several years on the because of Sorasing Moses to 16 that means 16 years since an AA child was born in GC and another thing I have realized other than Sophia I don't think an AA woman has given birth since Drucilla I believe. Lily had her children with a Caucasian surrogate, Abby will be the mother of Devon's baby. Is there something against women of color having babies? Even Juliette who was Asian died in childbirth and Sam was written out. Hilary and her baby both died. There would have been an opportunity to have Elena get pregnant by Devon or Nate and possibly they could have written a pregnancy with Amanda. We know Lily cannot have children. Lola thought briefly she might be pregnant but wasn't. Ray's ex wife had a baby but was written out and the birth was off screen. Lily's kids are now grown and off screen.

I am not saying the show is being purposefully racist in some way just wondering why do few children of color or women of color becoming mothers and giving birth
on screen. It's part of my reason for not liking the Abby baby story is Devon's first born child being given to a white couple especially after the death of Hilary and what would have been his first born child.

Out of the soaps I have watched, the ladies of color lead characters cannot have children. Lily (Y&R), as you mentioned had cancer. Maya (B&B) who was thoroughly investigated twice, suddenly became transgendered. Gabbi (Days), who had a child with her gay HS sweetheart who is now rearing the child off screen, was beaten so badly when she was falsely imprisoned that she cannot have children. I guess its all coincidental

[DEELUVSTONY]

I knew about B&B and sadly it's not surprising they don't have a great record on meaningful stories for AA characters. I don't watch Days so I wasn't aware of that story. I used to watch but haven't watched in years so I don't know what their history is with AA women giving birth.

[janesBydiction]

Devon's kid with Abby will be 3/4 white. The phenotype of someone with this racial admixture is a crapshoot. Anywhere from slightly darker than Devon, to Abby's coloring.

When was the last time a man and a woman had sex on the show, got pregnant then gave birth on YR? It's been ages. Either the baby is brought out of nowhere, the mother miscarries, or it's a lab insemination situation.

Devon and Amanda or Elena should have a baby. It's lame AF that Devon's firstborn seed is being wasted on Abby's child. Why can't Devon have a kid with the woman he is with?

[Soapfan54]

...I am not saying the show is being purposefully racist in some way just wondering why do few children of color or women of color becoming mothers and giving birth on screen. It's part of my reason for not liking the Abby baby story is Devon's first born child being given to a white couple especially after the death of Hilary and what would have been his first born child...

It seems racist Could it be unintentionally so(?) But, as Oprah says, "If it looks like a duck and it quacks like one, then..." Maybe it could be just not giving any thought to inclusivity--through diversity--ever. Like the thought never even enters their minds But maybe someone did point this out to them, since there's currently an ongoing "racial reckoning" taking place. So then they came up w/this offensive "surrogate" storyline (which includes two marginalized classes, Devon AND Mariah who are doing ALL of the giving) as some sort of "repair" offering(?) But if this were the case, then wouldn't some discussion of race be included in the storyline? Instead, when Abby brought up the valid subject of the baby's racial status for discussion, Devon (a Black person) dismisses the subject by stating that, "...he never thinks about race unless it's on the News...(?)" I would've loved it if Abby had followed up with, "...on the News, HOW?

Just sayin' it seems that as soon as the subject of possible racism is even mentioned, then the standard becomes "Prove it!!" And that shouldn't be the standard. Because if it isn't racism, then it should be easy to explain each concern that is raised--w/o being defensive. JM respectful HO...

[Fanlady]

Wow! I totally agree with everything you’ve said, it is spot on and perfectly stated.

[MsMalin]

I don't know...we rarely see small children on the show anyway. I guess someone can have a boc and then wait 15 years or soras it quickly.
I also thought Devon would have 3 babies on his hands. I wish the writers had gone that way.

[Jerze]

OP while Y&R has a number of AA actors on board for the first time in a long time I understand and agree with your observations. There may be unconscious bias at play here - at best I would hope that it was unconscious. How many of the writers on Y&R are African-American? Hopefully this "oversight" will be noticed by TPTB and we'll see some reflective additions to GC's population.

I could go a lot of places with how people of color are treated on this and other soaps but I'm not in the mood for a debate. I'll just go with the above.

Soapfan54, went back and read the comments. Just wanted to say well done and thank you.

[Good Kitty]

I don’t know what the world will be like when Abby’s baby grows up or even if we ever get to see the child as a young adult but if he does look white and is not told Devon was his sperm donor, it might be an interesting SL to watch him deal with his racial identity once he discovers how he was conceived. But maybe I’m expecting too much.

It’s too bad the race issue was never used as a SL with the twins. There was much potential there, Charlie catching flak for dating a white girl (and I too agree he was miscast) and Mattie getting bullied for being a nerd, especially a black one. But fans would have to be receptive to these SL’s. I know this may sound like a one-note rant of mine but the way young Shauna was treated by viewers was IMHO disgraceful.

[GwenSharonteam]

And who has a point of view beside 3 characters than JG is happy to write for … the writers don’t even write for Billy .. , they let him just as Lily being worried, popping silly ideas for article , at least they have given the desk to Lily ,where Billy always stand up and do nothing professional…sorry easy criticism,… Nick has no life, Abby is stuck in the chancellor mansion and doesn’t seem to work anymore ..Tessa is between chancellor and Sharon’s coffee … Sharon’s pouring coffee for month .. Jack wears daily a suit but doesn’t work at Jabot for months …and Nate and Elena play doctor without patient and hospitals, And Devon has no work , no building and is there just to pour wine to Amanda and record video to Abby … and the list is long of characters who definitely do silly thing on screen with no stories…I don’t see Ashland in a better position either, but it seems because he’s holding Victoria’s hand now, he is certainly parts of the active characters who has a point of view ..I guess …

[bronxgal]

GwenSharonteam when I say “active” and “passive” I mean a character that drives story vs a character that reacts to a character that drives story. It isn’t a judgement on what kind of story a character has.

I have hated stories for Victoria, Amanda and Phyllis but they do mostly drive the story.

Of course it’s my opinion, I never said differently.

[GwenSharonteam]

It’s your opinion and I respect but and you certainly point out the obvious here, they drive story because JG and his team of writers makes them heroin of their story , and they write for them …. Lily’s didn’t have any storyline as main focus, and the only times they give her an opportunities it’s when Billy was in jail …, ..but in same times I keep watching the 3 little minutes of Lily per week, and all the storylines driving by Amanda, Phyllis or Victoria gives me more time to do things in my life … unfortunately, for me it always miss the it factor that makes me want to watch them … Amanda had an instant family create for her, a story about a father and mother they completely rewrote, and with a bang of ending ..and strangely , that storyline didn’t passion much and got few interest with the audience .. but true the production put Amanda in the spotlight, and did everything to assure she was lead in this storyline .. and you have certainly the romance/merger with Ashland and Victoria..another story that let me perplexe… and Phyllis vs Sally, and Tara … so yes, producers definitely give them opportunity and room to expressed and be lead .., but at the end ..for me it doesn’t change anything because I find zero interest on anything they propose .. the only positive addition was Sutton …and really my only good surprise for those last months …

[BlueberryJam]

Abby's baby will be 75% white.

[GwenSharonteam]

If Mariah does give birth and the baby is ok it will be the first AA baby (technically bi-racial but...) born in several years on the because of Sorasing Moses to 16 that means 16 years since an AA child was born in GC and another thing I have realized other than Sophia I don't think an AA woman has given birth since Drucilla I believe. Lily had her children with a Caucasian surrogate, Abby will be the mother of Devon's baby. Is there something against women of color having babies? Even Juliette who was Asian died in childbirth and Sam was written out. Hilary and her baby both died. There would have been an opportunity to have Elena get pregnant by Devon or Nate and possibly they could have written a pregnancy with Amanda. We know Lily cannot have children. Lola thought briefly she might be pregnant but wasn't. Ray's ex wife had a baby but was written out and the birth was off screen. Lily's kids are now grown and off screen.

I am not saying the show is being purposefully racist in some way just wondering why do few children of color or women of color becoming mothers and giving birth
on screen. It's part of my reason for not liking the Abby baby story is Devon's first born child being given to a white couple especially after the death of Hilary and what would have been his first born child.

Interesting I was thinking the same lately ..than Sofia was the only AA character to give birth, and as Lily ,Devon first child and both carry by surrogacy…, .. and we had plenty pregnancy but like any Hilary,Elena, Lily, and other female from diversity manage to be mums and have their child on screen…. Juliet died, and Sam disappear so fast,.. Lola had a scare of pregnancy and here is the mother of Kyle’s first child , certainly not looking like Lola .. it’s like they took off any choice of character from diversity to be parent on their own,and their child to be part of the casts and future generations….., as Rey …who the child was his brother, and now he’s just happy to be part of Faith’s life as stepfather … really sad … I won’t put my all thought on it, but I hope some change would come in the future ….