What should have been a happy moment for Rachel, a cashier at the Celina 52 Truck Stop, turned into an internet firestorm. On February 17, she and her fiancé, Paul Buckman, welcomed their son, Cash Jamal Buckman. Both parents are white, but the baby’s darker complexion sparked online speculation about his paternity.
A congratulatory post from the truck stop drew a flood of comments and jokes. In response, the company explained Rachel has African American ancestry that can skip generations, and suggested the skin tone could also be from jaundice—urging people to “please be kind.”
Still, the chatter grew, especially after the business announced plans for DNA and polygraph tests on employees, which fueled even more backlash. A simple birth announcement had snowballed into viral drama that shows no signs of stopping.
