https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/12/03/black-santa-solidarity/
The Kennedy family live in Arkansas, USA. They put up their Christmas decorations this year, as they do every year, in front of their house. The decorations include a large inflatable Christmas tree and inflatable Santa next to twinkling lights. But this year after a week the family received a letter saying they should take the Santa down. The letter claimed to be from Santa and said, "I am a white man to you and have been for the last 600 years." At the end of the letter the writer suggested the family move to a different neighbourhood.
The family wondered if they had made the right choice and if they should move. They shared the letter on social media but they were immediately deluged with messages of support from their neighbours. What do you think the neighbours did next? Slowly, one by one, Black Santas started appearing all over the neighbourhood.
One of the first people to put up a Black Santa was 70 year old Chip Welch. Chip said the letter was, "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in. We were all pretty concerned about it and we decided it would be poetic for everyone to get Black Santa's."
Will and Paula Jones live across the street and have put up a Black Santa. Paula said when she heard about the letter, "My first thought was, 'Where can I get one?"
Neighbour Ben Keller had a two year old son who is black. Ben says their son is "absolutely thrilled to see some Santa's that reflect back to him."
People have also sent donations to the Kennedy family, who have donated everything to charity. They have received over $1000.
what do you notice about the Santa?
explain the story
- why would someone write that letter, what was their aim?
- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they first read the letter?
- Chip Welch says the letter is "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in" what does that mean?
- why do you think Paula immediately thought, "Where can I get one"?
- why do you think so many neighbours put up black Santas and shared photos?
- what does this story show about lots of people in America today and their attitude to diversity and difference?
- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they saw their neighbours' reactions?
- Ben Keller says his Black son is "thrilled to see some Santas that reflect back at him" what does this mean?
- what does representation mean and why is it important today?
- what can we learn from the Kennedy family?
- what can we learn from their neighbours?
- why is this about No Outsiders?
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