Anti-Discrimination Statement

We hope this statement helps all people to better understand the mission and purpose of our organization. Mocha Moms, Inc. was established as a support group for at-home mothers of color. It is not unlike many other support groups established for a particular segment of the population. Mocha Moms, Inc. has a policy of non-exclusivity and does not discriminate. It is not now nor has it ever been a closed group. Anyone who understands and supports our mission is welcome to join. This includes men and women of all socio-economic backgrounds, races and religions. Thank you for your interest in Mocha Moms, Inc.

Why do at-home mothers of color need a support group?

Mocha Moms, Inc. exists to give support and encouragement to at-home mothers of color whose decision to not work full-time outside the home puts them at odds with a culture that increasingly requires dual incomes for a family to remain economically stable.

Here is a history lesson to put this issue into perspective:

The majority of African-Americans living in America today are descendents of Africans who were brought to this country to work as slaves. Slaves were not considered people. They were property just like a pair of shoes, a shirt or a chair, though they were seldom treated as well. Slave women worked night and day in the master's house and in his fields. When they gave birth, what do you think happened to their babies? Their babies were sold like the chattel they were considered to be. Slave mothers rarely saw their children reach adulthood. And even if their children were not sold and remained on the same plantation, these mothers could not participate in the raising of their children because they were forced to slave for the master, his wife and their children. The white establishment systematically destroyed black families by making it illegal for slaves to wed, and by separating parents from each other and from their children.

African-Americans are still experiencing the repercussions of slavery. This is evident in the disproportionate number of black males in our nation's jails, the percentage of black children living below the poverty line and the percentage of black adults who have not been able to get a college education.

Miraculously however, many African-Americans have made great strides in the face of oppression and have succeeded and excelled in spite of this oppression. Unfortunately, this success has often come at a price. As generations of white mothers enjoyed the privilege of being able to stay at home and spend time with their children, generations of black mothers lived and in order to earn money to feed their own children and provide them with basic necessities and educational opportunities.

This was necessary because historically, institutionalized racism has prevented African-American men from being able to provide their families with enough income at allow their wives to be at-home mothers. The two-plus income family was and still is the model in many African-American households.

The two-plus income family is not unique to African-Americans. Many racial and ethnic minorities who come to this country in search of better lives have obstacles to overcome making it impossible to devote their full attention to the care and rearing of their children. Those who choose to sacrifice upward mobility and financial gain or forsake the educational and employment opportunities that their communities have fought so hard to win to stay home and raise their children are sometimes misunderstood, criticized and ridiculed by members of their own families. Mocha Moms, Inc. wants to help these mothers find balance, understanding and acceptance for themselves. We want to help them make healthy choices for their families and for themselves. Mocha Moms, Inc. wants to build a sisterhood of mothers of color because motherhood is THE most important profession and at home mothers of color are making their families their priority. Anyone can join us if they share our vision.