Dear Santa,
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
By VeTalle Fusilier
All I want for Christmas is cultural reparations. As you know, I have been extra good this year, not really making a fuss or creating a muss anywhere. My Jena 6 protest was peaceful, some idiot accused my brother Barack of being related to, well you know, and I didn’t even go berserk. I would hope that as a white old dude, this wouldn’t be lost on you and you would give me some considerations, some reparations.
We won’t go back, back like Jimmy Castor in a "Troglodyte” way, but we have been the go-to culture for dance steps, coolness, and consciousness for years. And I know we have been blessed. Token is a South Park character. Oprah is Oprah. OJ is still OJ. And the shiniest penny in the political change purse is a black man. America has rewarded us, no doubt. But I am still hoping for a reparations Christmas, Santa.
Not that I haven’t been blessed all year, I mean, I even like the Celtics again. But I hope Santa, that you could grant me something for the things on my list. I want some get back for all the cool stuff Black has given to society without compensation. Just to name a few:
- The high five
Saw two matrons giving each other high five at the Olive Garden yesterday. How long has that gone on, this giving each other five thing? It’s the American standard of congratulations, now.
- Big shorts
I mean how many of us are happy now that we don’t have to wear those running singlets anymore? And how many kids can wear the same pair of shorts for years now?
And the music, so much we have done with the music. Even suburban wedding dances are being done to Sir Mix-Lot.
I like big butts, and I cannot lie either, but that’s another list, Santa.
- Dreads, braid, cornrows
Not just for wiggers anymore. Seen some weird white survivalists and some dude named Dog sneering at me with dreads. Guess a hairdo doesn’t make a howdy-do anymore.
- Condi
Condi, Condi, Condi. My sista from Birmingham.
- UnderAmour,
You know that was invented by a brother, Santa, and he changed the game.
And speaking of games, now it comes out that we influenced hockey. Hockey? Who knew? And it was in our ever-present attempt to become more American.
Santa, you have to understand, that I believe, and I respect you. I even appreciate your black cousin that you send to my neighborhood that I can take pictures with. My family and I are very happy about that. But, hook me up, dude in red. I mean, you got to be peeps, you and my uncle are the only ones I know to rock a red suit. So, Santa, I dunno, a Maybach not a mule, 40 acres of blinged out beachfront property would do. Ok, ok, I would just as soon settle for peace, justice, and opportunity. And all the eligible voters doing the crankdat-change dance.
“We don’t georgie porgie no mo, we just get a better president than befo…”.
VeTalle Fusilier is a producer and writer based in Washington, DC. It's pronounced VEE-tal few-suh-LEER.
Dear Santa,
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
By VeTalle Fusilier
All I want for Christmas is cultural reparations. As you know, I have been extra good this year, not really making a fuss or creating a muss anywhere. My Jena 6 protest was peaceful, some idiot accused my brother Barack of being related to, well you know, and I didn’t even go berserk. I would hope that as a white old dude, this wouldn’t be lost on you and you would give me some considerations, some reparations.
We won’t go back, back like Jimmy Castor in a "Troglodyte” way, but we have been the go-to culture for dance steps, coolness, and consciousness for years. And I know we have been blessed. Token is a South Park character. Oprah is Oprah. OJ is still OJ. And the shiniest penny in the political change purse is a black man. America has rewarded us, no doubt. But I am still hoping for a reparations Christmas, Santa.
Not that I haven’t been blessed all year, I mean, I even like the Celtics again. But I hope Santa, that you could grant me something for the things on my list. I want some get back for all the cool stuff Black has given to society without compensation. Just to name a few:
- The high five
Saw two matrons giving each other high five at the Olive Garden yesterday. How long has that gone on, this giving each other five thing? It’s the American standard of congratulations, now.
- Big shorts
I mean how many of us are happy now that we don’t have to wear those running singlets anymore? And how many kids can wear the same pair of shorts for years now?
And the music, so much we have done with the music. Even suburban wedding dances are being done to Sir Mix-Lot.
I like big butts, and I cannot lie either, but that’s another list, Santa.
- Dreads, braid, cornrows
Not just for wiggers anymore. Seen some weird white survivalists and some dude named Dog sneering at me with dreads. Guess a hairdo doesn’t make a howdy-do anymore.
- Condi
Condi, Condi, Condi. My sista from Birmingham.
- UnderAmour,
You know that was invented by a brother, Santa, and he changed the game.
And speaking of games, now it comes out that we influenced hockey. Hockey? Who knew? And it was in our ever-present attempt to become more American.
Santa, you have to understand, that I believe, and I respect you. I even appreciate your black cousin that you send to my neighborhood that I can take pictures with. My family and I are very happy about that. But, hook me up, dude in red. I mean, you got to be peeps, you and my uncle are the only ones I know to rock a red suit. So, Santa, I dunno, a Maybach not a mule, 40 acres of blinged out beachfront property would do. Ok, ok, I would just as soon settle for peace, justice, and opportunity. And all the eligible voters doing the crankdat-change dance.
“We don’t georgie porgie no mo, we just get a better president than befo…”.
VeTalle Fusilier is a producer and writer based in Washington, DC. It's pronounced VEE-tal few-suh-LEER.
4 Responses to "Dear Santa,"
10.09.08 at 3:13 PM
george says:
God bless all black americans
11.12.08 at 4:38 PM
Teddy Mullen says:
emeb6s32k2mu9ngd
12.16.08 at 2:34 PM
Catherine Cacho-Leary says:
***KWANZAA CELEBRATION***
Andrew Cacho African Drummers/Dancers Perform
@ Publick Playhouse
Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 8 pm
Tickets: $10; $8/seniors & students; $5/ages 5 & under
Exceptional African dance troupes, such as The Andrew Cacho African Drummers & Dancers, Inc., join together at the Playhouse to celebrate a rich cultural heritage through dance, drumming, traditional music and storytelling.
http://cachoafricandance.blogspot.com/
12.19.08 at 8:37 AM
Richard Somerville says:
I gotta thank you guys/gals at Ebony.com for the comprehensive photo coverage of Alvin Ailey 50th Anniversary. I saw a gallery on another website... and was confused because it seemed that the article should have been all about Oprah??? You concentrated on what Ailey was really about ... the dance, and the dancers!
Thanks, Thanks Alot!!!
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