The Secret and Mysterious Asian Santa

So this is Daniel’s first Xmas and I tried to capture the important memories of the season. Top on my list was the xmas photo. Now as usual I had to add a twist to the normal Santa xmas photo by wanting an Asian Santa. I just felt it would be nice to have Daniel take a photo with an Santa that looked a bit like him.

Asian Santa on vacation?

Needless to say the search for this race of Santa became a case for the CIA. I couldn’t find one in the usual places for nothing. I asked around every place and everyone I knew but no one had heard of an Asian Santa before. Shucks even the Asian people were looking for an Asian Santa

Where was this guy? On vacation? In a screet location only knowen to Asians? Was he working on the Asian timetable of xmas time? Did dude not get the memo that he’s needed this year? Or is the lack of an Asian Santa about something else…

You see it’s only recently that I’ve even seen a black Santa and homie only works in certain broughs anyway. For the most part people associated Santa with a big n jolly white guy. This makes sense since it’s a European character in orgin. Add to that most cultures do not celebrate the xmas idea. Thus the lack of more ethnic Santa.

But still…I’m in the darn United States…heck I’m in New York City for crying out loud. There is no excuse for the lack of ethic Santas in a place filled with so many different cultures. Why couldn’t I find a Asian Santa…even in Chinatown?!

But again, I’m fightning against what most people consider to be the norm…Santa is white…except in certain parts of brooklyn. Next year I’m going to hire my own group of ethic Santas to take photos with Daniel. I refuse to accept the “white Santa norm” another year.

DNA and Race – Black or Asian?

DNA and racial identification.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/us/12genes.html? _r=1

The idea that people are using DNA results to qualify for affirmative action, college admissions and scholarships and membership in wealthy casino tribes.

There’s alot of comments going back and forth in one of the mixed race groups I’m part of online. At first whenever convos start on whether affirmative action is a good or bad thing I could only think of myself. I mean hell yeah it’s a good thing if it gives me an extra boost in areas where being “black” meant being passed over or limited. Now after having my son my views on affirmative action has expanded in an unexpected way.

A few months ago one of my sisters bf, Kevin had some very interesting things to say about Daniel and my insistence that he can claim being black. Seems Kevin thinks if Daniel doesn’t look black then no one will think he is. He felt that Daniel will never be allowed into…

- The projects…unless he’s delivering food
- Basketball court…unless he’s with black friends.
- Howard University…unless he can prove his blackness by taking me along

Now, I tend to take uneducated comments like this in stride. No sense trying to explain something’s to some people. But it did make me wonder about colleges and such. I mean of course I want Daniel to go to college but it’s not cheap so I can use all the help I can get right? But what happens after filling out the applications, getting all the required paperwork and Daniel has to go in for the face to face interview? Will they say he’s a faker to the claim of “black-hood”? Can he claim protection under the umbrella of affirmative action? What happens when having 50% of black blood doesn’t show? Will Daniel have to walk around with DNA evidence to not only prove that he’s black but he’s also entitled to all the rights that come with it…if he chooses to claim them that is. He might just claim to be Asian and get into college that way. Shyt, No problems there right?

Hmm, I only have questions with no answers…but maybe Daniel and I will have to make our own answers.