There was an interesting conversation going on regarding Race and Light Skin Bias in India on a recruiting network… well this conversation has actually become even more interesting offline as well..

This is a topic that personally interests me.. I bring this up as a person who just recently received their American Citizenship a few months ago. I am originally from the Caribbean, Bi Racial.. Black, Portuguese, and White..

Yes,  I prefer to say Biracial, when identifying to my heritage and biological makeup, as I give credit to both of my parents for my birth and genes.

Well this is what I have a problem with.. the terms African American, Asian American, Eastern American… etc..

Now why can we not just say American.. Really.. let’s take the term African American for example — I am considered to be Black because of appearances - the color of my skin, the texture of my hair, even though though the only black in my gene pool is from my grandmother..
the same goes for the Spanish.. yet I will not be considered such.

Now, I am from the Carri bean, not considered Caribbean American Right? no such animal.. No, but prior to several months ago when I was not an American what "should"  I have called myself?

I was not born in Africa, never been there.. can name about 8 countries there at best, don’t speak the language, but it is suggested that I label myself African American..

My children, their father is American, 3rd Generation, but his roots come from Mexico.. yet he is considered Mexican.. as are my kids.. Why? Are they Not American themselves..

I don't get it.. how is it that  my kids who are 4th generation American, and who are "more American" than my White 2'nd Generation American Husband, would be labeled Mexican.. go figure.. they can’t speak hardly a lick of Spanish.. what they learned is school, and yet…

I wonder.. when will an American just be an American?

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 ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP

Karen is an experienced, successful recruiter who operates her own business and is actively involved in many industry organizations and activities. Her recruiting career began with Snelling Corporation. In 1998, after a successful tenure as a recruiter with Snelling, Karen struck out on her own, founding Advanced Career Solutions (ACS). ACS focuses on recruiting for the HVAC Industry. Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (http://www.americanstaffing.net/)

She has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.

Karen was a co-creator of the landmark webinar event – "EEOC Discrimination Debate." This event featured senior members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and staffing industry experts discussing and debating difficult issues about discrimination in today’s workplace environment. Company executives, hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals from across the United States were invited to participate in the free Webinar and live panel discussion. Karen also served as one of the panelists on the discussion team in the March, 2006 event.

As co-host of the popular podcast "The Recruiters Lounge ,"Karen discusses her frank opinions on the recruitment industry with her co-host, Jim Stroud.