Last week the Internet exploded asking “Is Santa Claus White?”, igniting a snowball effect with media. The debate left many adults wondering if they should have to teach their kids about racial stereotypes.
FOX News anchor Megan Kelly’s comments about black author Aisha Harris’ piece Santa Claus Should Not Be White Anymore sent the media in a frenzy last week. Kelly defended her comments, shifting the blame on viewers quick to fall for racial baiting and hatred for FOX news by viewers who couldn’t take a joke. Oh yeah, she admits that Jesus wasn’t white either.
Last week, a New Mexico teacher was disciplined after telling a black student who came dressed up as a Santa to a Holiday party that Santa is white. The student was confused and his parents outraged.
Harris’ piece was in response to the terrible black Santa question, in which a black Santa playing a saxophone was included in Christmas-themed decorations. Harris suggested the use of a penguin to make Santa inclusive for kids. After all, kids grow up seeing talking animals all the time in cartoons. I mean who didn’t love Disney’s Happy Feet?
If children aren’t confused enough if he really exists, now they have to question whether their beloved Santa Claus had fair skin. While adults who know better about Santa, are debating about whether or not Santa has melanin in his fictional skin, many are missing out on the important message that Santa can teach children. How about we drop this so-called debate about Santa’s fictional melanin deficient skin and focus on the lessons of Christmas, if you so choose to partake in the Holiday.
Ed and Deb Shapiro wrote about insightful things we can learn from Santa Claus. How about lessons of being kind, generous, thoughtful and giving of not only gifts but a listening ear? Try unwrapping those lessons along with what is underneath the Christmas tree and save the racial talk for later.
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