'Jesus Was a White Man … I Just Want Kids to Know That,' Says Fox News' Megyn Kelly
A black Santa? No, that's going a bit too far now. Fox News host Megyn Kelly felt the discussion of that notion in a recent op-ed by Slate writer Aisha Harris, required a staunch rebuttal and proclamation to America's children that it is an accepted fact that Santa and Jesus were both white.
In the op-ed titled "Santa Claus Should Not Be a White Man Anymore," Harris argued that insisting Santa Claus can only be white "helps perpetuate the whole 'white-as-default' notion endemic to American culture (and, of course, not just American culture)."
To fix that, Harris, who is black, suggested that Santa be replaced by a penguin for a more neutral figure.
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"Let's ditch Santa the old white man altogether, and embrace Penguin Claus—who will join the Easter Bunny in the pantheon of friendly, secular visitors from the animal kingdom who come to us as the representatives of ostensibly religious holidays," suggested Harris. "It's time to hand over the reins to those deer and let the universally beloved waddling bird warm the hearts of children everywhere, regardless of the color of their skin."
Kelly, however, took issue with the suggestion on her show, a clip of which was posted to YouTube.
"I kind of laughed and I said this is ridiculous. Yet another person claiming it's racist to have a white Santa," said Kelly.
"For kids watching at home, Santa just is white but this person is arguing we should have a black Santa," Kelly said in her response.
"Just because it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't mean it has to change. Jesus was a white man too. It's like we have, he's a historical figure that's a verifiable fact, as is Santa, I just want kids to know that. How do you revise it in the middle of the legacy in the story and change Santa from white to black?" she asked.
