A "Coconut" Tale by Emily Morales

Since When Is a Success Story a "White" Thing?

When my husband Blas and I started dating in high school, I remember telling a Hispanic friend of my new-found affection for my then-boyfriend, about whom he opined, "He's a coconut." Upon my asking for clarification as to this never-heard-before term, the friend quipped, "You know; brown on the outside, but white on the inside." I drew Blas's ire when I recounted the conversation to him.

My husband was the oldest son of a hard-working migrant worker. Having grown up in poverty and having worked the fields as young as eight, Blas decided by the time he reached junior high school that he would strive for economic success, which meant very hard work, and ultimately, a college education. Driven by ambition,...

Emily Morales

graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Fresno, with a BS in molecular biology and a minor in cognitive psychology. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in immunology, microbiology, behavioral and cognitive psychology, scanning tunneling microscopy and genetics - having published research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, and projects in scanning tunneling microscopy. Having recently completed an M.Ed. from University of Cincinnati and a Certificate in Apologetics with the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, Emily is currently an instructional designer/content developer for Moody Bible Institute and teaches organic chemistry and physics. As a former Darwinian evolutionist, Emily now regards the intelligent design arguments more credible than those proffered by Darwinists for explaining the origin of life.

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