Dreaming of a White Christmas

Last year I had a serious question and now this year, especially in the year of our first African American president elect, I now feel the need to put it to the test. Can we please see a black santa clause? For real, its that time of year when we all go out and throw our good hard earned money away in the name of St. Nick -- well not completely but you can easily get the point, we go out spend money we really can't afford and still take our children to see Santa Clause who happens to be white. Previously I really would not have an objection but now that I am a parent, a socially conscious parent at that, I have to raise questions to the various social constructions. For years, the white house has been a place where the head white man in charge crashed for four years rent free. Now that is about to change. For years, folks who were true born again christians prayed to a "white" jesus. For eons powerful white men told incredibly small white lies which caused catastrophe. There has been a serious brain washing game with the color of white. Things that are white in this country, possibly others, are seen as being clean and innocent and pure. The institutions we have set up in this country, the ones we have blindly bought into, have set up a fractured fairy tale which plays out into the social reality we call life. The color system in this country represents a caste system on a plethora of levels and because of that, the effects can be horrific. For example, I can now understand why some parents don't want their children to see a white santa clause because of the reasons I have stated above. That said, because of how we have been conditioned as a society, if a Black, Brown, or even a Red Santa came down the chimney, before he got to the tree, he would be shot dead or seriously wounded. Marge, come quick, some [you fill in the blank] dressed in a red suit just broke in the house, I've got the gun on him. Imagine if you will the song I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause. Archie Bunker might be pretty mad. The news media might take it to the extreme. "If you see a[non model minority] man fitting this description, 6'1, 300 pounds wearing a red suit, call police immediacy." I can see the headline, Colored Clause Catches A Cap in that A$$! Lets not forget the economic hardship that might be imposed on KRS Cringel. Imagine trying to get a loan at the bank of the North Pole and his credit is jacked. Mr. Drysdale tells him he's over extended and they are giving thought to repossessing his sleigh. I love Christmas Specials, I grew up watching them, but never, not even in the Fat Albert Christmas Special-well let me check on that first, but the point I am attempting to make is that our media has put forth this image of santa being ever good and white. Now before my readers dismiss my rant as being unsupported rhetoric, allow me pause to draw attention to the serious matter of the character of Black Peter. This is curtsey of Mac Carey:
Black Peter, or Zwarte Piet in Dutch, began in Holland in the 15th century. His dark appearance is supposed to suggest a Spaniard, a reflection of Spain's occupation of the Netherlands at the time. Black Peter was also associated with pirates, a common threat to naughty Dutch children was that he would take them to a pirate's hide out and beat them. He was often represented holding a large stick for this purpose. The large bag that he held was rumored to be used for stuffing children in for the trip back to Spain. At the time "Black Peter" was a euphemism for the devil, and it was thought that St. Nicholas, being a representative of God, had beaten the devil and made him his servant. Thus it fell to Black Peter to hand out the punishments, while St. Nicholas dealt with the more pleasant sides of Christmas.
For more information you can visit this link: http://mymerrychristmas.com/2006/blackpeter.shtml
Ain't sad? All I want for Christmas, of course with the usual, God in my heart, my family in my life, and of course the cool million in the bank tax free, is some equity in myth making process. White doesn't always signify purity: see our outgoing president George Bush. That said if Christmas is for the kids, young and old, then why not make it for all the kids so Santa Clause is accessible by all kids