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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA poem: Can Santa Be Black?
Can Santa Be Black?by B.J. Wrights
It happened in the kindergarten class,
Right at the table where they were having snack.
Joanie asked the question and they all sat back:
Mr. Slater? Can Santa Claus be Black?
Poor Mr. Slater didnt know what to say,
Christmas vacation was twenty days away.
There were snowflakes to cut and wreaths to be hung,
Christmas cards to paint,
Christmas songs to be sung.
He hadnt time to think
What Christmas was about,
In twenty more days,
School would be out.
Why couldnt they wait
And ask their questions then,
When mommies and daddies
Were home to answer them?
Mr. Slater? Can Santa be thin?
Is Santa Claus always a him?
Mr. Slater looked at twenty pairs of eyes,
Twenty children of every shape and size.
He ate a bit of cracker and finished his drink.
Children, he said,
Ill need some time to think.
As soon as class was over,
He ran down the hall,
Skidded round a corner,
Crashed into a wall.
Ran up the steps to the second floor,
Rapped on the window of the principals door.
Ms Frazer, Ms. Frazer, what can I do?
The children asked these questions
That now I ask of you:
Can Santa be black?
Can Santa be thin?
Does Santa always have to be a him?
Mr. Slater, its a difficult task
To find answers to the questions you ask.
I think with these Ill need some assistance,
But Ill get you the answers with a little persistence.
Ms. Frazer turned in her swivel chair,
Picked up the phone and dialed Mr. Dare
Mr. Dare was the head of the PTA,
He called for a meeting the very next day.
Thank you for coming,
He began with a greeting.
Id like to get right to the point of this meeting.
Mr. Slater, in charge of the kindergarten class,
Needs some answers to some questions
And he needs them real fast.
Can Santa be black?
Can Santa be thin?
Does Santa always have to be a him?
The parents didnt know what to say,
Christmas vacation was nineteen days away.
There were cookies to bake and lights to string,
Gifts to wrap and carols to sing.
They hadnt time to think
What Christmas was about,
In nineteen more days
School would be out!
Why did children have to ask questions when
Parents had no time to answer them?
Well Parents?
Are there any suggestions?
Do we have any answers
To these difficult questions?
Who know best
What Christmas is about?
Lets ask Santa!
Someone called out in a shout.
The secretary of the PTA
Sent a letter to Santa the very next day.
The reply came back very, very fast,
Addressed to Mr. Slater
And the kindergarten class.
* * *
Dear Mr. Slater, Dear Girls, Dear Boys,
Once a storywriter caught me bringing you toys.
The year he spied me opening my sack,
my skin was white, my boots were black.
You probably know how that story goes
I laid a finger aside my nose?
All these years, needlessly,
that story worries children who dont have a chimney.
All year long I listen to the news,
read peoples thought, see peoples views.
At the end of the year, when I see whats needed most,
I take that shape, like a Christmas ghost.
I can pass through keyholes, windows and locks,
apartment buildings, hospitals, tents, and trailer lots.
One year I used a wheelchair in place of my sleigh,
Once I was blind and had to feel my way.
Its hard to understand when I dont leave a toy:
you cant unwrap a gift like hope, or health or joy.
My skin has been black, white, yellow, red, brown;
my eyes have been slanted, crossed, and round.
Sometimes I have been a she:
all these things are part of me.
You may not believe all this is true,
but thats okay, boys and girls, because
I believe in you.
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A poem: Can Santa Be Black? (Original Post)
FourScore
Dec 2013
OP
lol, it is getting beyond funny into urban lore. i guess it depends on the geographical location
loli phabay
Dec 2013
#3
Gothmog
(145,321 posts)1. I really like this poem
Thank you for sharing
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)2. How surreal is it...
that we're having a national argument over the race of a mythical man in a red suit?
Beam me the fuck up Scottie.
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)3. lol, it is getting beyond funny into urban lore. i guess it depends on the geographical location
but for me santa will always be a fat jovial white guy in a red suit with a big beard who comes from the far north. others milage may vary.