2005年NPR美国国家公共电台十二月-Dreaming of a Black Christmas（在线收听） |
| Gordon: This time of year it's hard to avoid the figure of old Saint Nick, he seems to be everywhere, from ringing a Salvation Army bell to posing for pictures at the local mall. Commentator Carole Boston Weatherford says she'd like to see a little more color in the Kris Cringle ranks. Carole Boston Weatherford: By now, every child who believes that a bearded man in a sleigh delivers toys yearns to share a wish list with Santa Claus or one of his local bearded clones. Visiting with Santa is one of the few Christmas rituals that's free. Granted a brief chat with Santa does raise expectations for material reward. But there is still no charge to perch on the jolly old man's lap. So why are some African-American parents reluctant to serve as Santa's helpers? Could it be that we can't bear spending our hard-earned money so some white man in a red velvet suit can take credit for putting toys under the Christmas Tree? Perhaps a black Santa would make the whole affair a bit more palatable. Finding a black Santa, however, is easier said than done. Apparantly, they are even rarer than the Xbox 360, this season's hottest toy. I can still remember my first glimpse of an African-American Santa. 30 some years ago, my father's fraternity hosted a Christmas party for members' children. The highlight was a black Santa bearing gifts and candy canes. I had never encountered a black Santa, but given his generosity, I was willing to believe that he was the real thing. Today, black Santas are still more likely to appear at festivities hosted by black organizations. Even in predominantly black urban areas, African-American Saint Nicks are hard to come by. In Baltimore, my home town, the city's sole black Santa resides at a mall in a black neighbourhood. My own son and daughter, now teenagers, only once sat on a black Santa's lap. This year, SOHO Santa is making several appearances in my area, but my children have outgrown him. As Cliff Hucksterbile on a 1980's Cosby show, Bill Cosby diplomatically theorized that Santa changes his ethnicity from house to house to match that of the child. Santa as camellia, interesting notion, but it doesn't hold water. When it comes to Santa, there are no grey areas, kids had either been naughty or nice and Santa is either black or white. So which is it? He is clearly African-American and Melodye Rosales' retelling of Clement Moore's classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Using Southern dialect, Rosales' "Twas the Night Before Christmas" portrays Santa in living color. And, I quote, "Eyes like coals, cotton-white hair and skin black molasses," end quote. Now that's a face even African-American parents can love. In the spirit of the season, I'm dreaming of a black Christmas. If a black Santa is too much to ask, can't toy stores at least stock enough African-American dolls to meet the demand? If I could find a black Santa, I'd take it up with him in person. In the meantime, I put a brown angel atop my tree and pray for snow. (Soundbite of "Up on a Rooftop") Gordon: Carole Boston Weatherford teaches creative writing at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. She is also the author of several books, including "A Negro League Scrapbook". |
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