Holidays of a Problematic Past!!!

Boy, there is nothing like being "Woke" or "Waking Up" during the holidays. And I am so happy to watch this stuff unfold. I needed the laughs.

Everyone wants to find issues with some of the "Classics" now. Well, this was some of the ways I thought in high school and caused my peers to look and talk about me crazy. If you ever pay attention, not one classic is ever on my list of favorites.

Franklin at Thanksgiving: I like Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. Just to see Peppermint Patty's boisterous & ungrateful butt get told off by Marcie is heart-warming. She really thought a child & some animals could make a turkey. But recently, pop culture finally saw the character, Franklin was separated from the group at the table.

First of all, this was made in 1973. All you needed was to see one non-white face and that call inclusion. But I knew when I saw Franklin walk in and give Charlie Brown and a cool handshake that the black experience was shown subtly. In 1973, parts of black life & its experience were still separate. And his placement at the table was one of those small images. Oh and shout out to the website, The Root for getting an interview with Mr. Franklin Armstrong. Read the tea & his advice, HERE.

Baby, It's Cold Outside: Well, Me Too! I never understood why this song shows up during the holidays. It's not even a Holiday song. Listen to the words and then delete your argumentive comments or emails. Speaking of the lyrics, they could be understood as rape-like. So the listeners of the radio station that voiced their opinion as told in THIS article, won't get a major finger shake from me. The song is a little outdated. It is not timeless.

It also came out when women were still thought of as demure and innocent. Only floozies stayed out late with a man. Also, it was a time when men could rape women and girls and the victims could be at fault. And with all his begging and he gives her a questionable drink, the male character would seem sketchy. The song could get the boot everywhere and I wouldn't miss it. And yes, you can call me cold.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer: When I was in high school, somebody trying to be funny asked me if I thought Rudolph's nose was red because he snorted cocaine. It was the popular joke of thought at the time, but it bored me. So, my sarcastic mouth said, "No, Rudolph just needed better self-esteem and he should've told Santa to kiss his ass". I messed up that kid's joke and was then called an effed-up weirdo. The amazing 90s, where drug use is humorous & bullying quietly ruled the day.

I still stand by my theory and now the "It Gets Better" movement feels somewhat the same way. Nobody was nice to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer until they needed him. And I am sorry, but Santa was aware of how the other reindeer treated him. He was just as complicit. But Rudolph had a softer heart than I and flew through the night with his bullies. I wonder if I could write some fan fiction about Rudolph's negotiations after flying on Christmas in fog. Then maybe it can become a holiday special for all to watch.

If you think about it, all of our childhood has problematic spots in them. But the wise poet-laureate Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better". The holidays of the past have their own traditions and now it's time to rewrite them and make new ones if we so wish. And that's that. Now, I'll just wait for someone to call Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson female empowerment icons for asking a guy out for New Year's Eve. And if you write the article after reading this, consider the topic a gift.

Happy Holidays!!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms