Did it Really Matter that Santa was White?
Now that Christmas is officially over, and the hype has died down a bit. I'd like to take aim at this subject, and say NO. Unfortunately I don't believe Santa's skin tone matters. At least not in the way you think it does.
This conversation really needs to shift from color to culture. You see the danger in a white Santa for Black people has more to do with a lack of cultural identity than it has to do with whether the fat, jolly icon is white or Black. In my household, Santa's red cheeks, and rosy smile assist in identifying what it means to be a Mendoza.
You see, in our household we are creating a standard of what being African-American means. The fact that white American culture so blatantly identifies itself, makes it easier for us to show our children that these things are not the Mendoza way.
In my opinion, the culture creating activities that take place in your household should build on the essence of what it means to be a part of that household. For example, in the early days of American expansion the materialism of Christmas , and Santa, fit the map of American capitalism. In essence, it fed the machine. So, it worked. The entire purpose of cultural traditions is to feed the essence of that group of people, or community. So Christmas, and again white Santa, pays the bill of American capitalism.
The trouble for Black families, is that some of us lack cultural customs during the holiday season that give special significance to what it means to be a part of an African-American family during the winter solstice. So, basically what happens in our families is a chocolate-covered version of what happens in white households across the nation. Now, there would be nothing wrong with that if race relations were not at such a fever pitch in our nation, and the devastation of the Black community wasn't sitting on our doorstep. But as it stands, being a Black mommy still has its issues in America -- to say the least.
The biggest problem with adopting another people's cultural and ideological traditions is that it does not allow the adopting group to see the full potential of its own people. Jews celebrate Hanukkah because it gives a deep meaning to Jewish identity, and therefore solidifies itself among its people as a vital tradition. Not to mention, that cultural holiday traditions make people feel good. When you have a custom that just your family or your community participates in it bonds you to one another. Not to mention it gives you bragging points with other nationalities...lol.
So, let's get started. From picking a certain color you will all wear on New Year's Eve and developing a story or even quick statement on why you wear that color, to making your late grandmother's favorite dish and ensuring all of your children know her name, tradition can start anywhere. Enjoy!
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Black Santa Around the Web:
Everything is White...Unless Your Told Otherwise ---- afrostateofmind.com
White Santa Vindicates My Philosophy of Christmas ---- alainamabaso.com
Santa Come Straight to the Ghetto ---- itsthecomebackkid.wordpress.com