News Disney plans to include a black Santa Claus at Walt Disney World this year as the company continues its diversity and inclusion program

[Brian]

I am a parent, and I don’t have a problem with this move at all. If this were to happen with DD, we would simply say either Santa is magic and can change his appearance (she’s certainly seen enough Tv shows where this can happen..), or that all of the Santas outside of the North Pole are Santa’s helpers, the real Santa is at the North Pole preparing for Christmas. It really does not have to be confusing.

Parents aren’t a monolith in beliefs any more than any other group is.

To clarify: I'm not saying that parents can't be in favor of black Santa (or opposed).

What I was saying there is that downplaying the relationship between a parent and their child by sarcastically referring to them as "precious little children" comes across as ignorant of the very real concerns parents have for their children each and every day, and seems to indicate an air of superiority of beliefs over the people who gave birth to them (or adopted).

In my opinion, black Santa is among the least of those very real concerns.

Well?...mice DO come in many dark colors. Mickey just happens to be a very light colored mouse. Whatever color he is...that wont hurt any child. I'm certain of this.

No, it won't hurt them. I'm simply stating my opinion that we should leave animated (fur) characters out of this.

 

[Lilofan]

Well?...mice DO come in many dark colors. Mickey just happens to be a very light colored mouse. Whatever color he is...that wont hurt any child. I'm certain of this.

Also...a white Black Panter is also 100% harmless as well.

Wow some are still triggered Black Santa is coming to WDW to greet all guests and a comment referring to a white black panther. Really?

 

[Chi84]

Also...a white Black Panter is also 100% harmless as well.

Right because white people don’t have enough representation in the superhero market.

 

[RobWDW1971]

Also...a white Black Panter is also 100% harmless as well.

And just like in Hamilton, a black George Washington was harmless.

And I'm sure everybody would be similarly supportive of the lead in the upcoming musicals - MLK: Livin' The Dream and Malcom X:The Musical being white.

I'm sure they would be absolutely consistent in their openness for colorblind casting of historical figures.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

To clarify: I'm not saying that parents can't be in favor of black Santa (or opposed).

What I was saying there is that downplaying the relationship between a parent and their child by sarcastically referring to them as "precious little children" comes across as ignorant of the very real concerns parents have for their children each and every day, and seems to indicate an air of superiority of beliefs over the people who gave birth to them (or adopted).

In my opinion, black Santa is among the least of those very real concerns.



No, it won't hurt them. I'm simply stating my opinion that we should leave animated (fur) characters out of this.

I think the way he meant it is that the parents who typically are freaking out about a Black Santa are the same ones who think their children can do no wrong, regardless of evidence to the contrary.

 

[Angel Ariel]

What I was saying there is that downplaying the relationship between a parent and their child by sarcastically referring to them as "precious little children" comes across as ignorant of the very real concerns parents have for their children each and every day, and seems to indicate an air of superiority of beliefs over the people who gave birth to them (or adopted).

Eh, I think that’s reading into it a bit. I certainly didn’t come away with that.

In my opinion, black Santa is among the least of those very real concerns.

On this I agree. This really shouldn’t hit the level of “concern,” IMO.

 

[BuddyThomas]

And just like in Hamilton, a black George Washington was harmless.

And I'm sure everybody would be similarly supportive of the lead in the upcoming musicals - MLK: Livin' The Dream and Malcom X:The Musical being white.

I'm sure they would be absolutely consistent in their openness for colorblind casting of historical figures.

This is getting ridiculous. One of the entire points of Hamilton is to provide representation to people of color.

The Michael Jackson musical is not to provide representation to white people.

These examples are absurd.

 

[Brian]

This is getting ridiculous. One of the entire points of Hamilton is to provide representation to people of color.

The Michael Jackson musical is not to provide representation to white people.

These examples are absurd.

Out of interest, would you be ok with a musical whose "point" was to provide representation to white people?

 

[John park hopper]

MLK portrayed by a white person == never happen

 

[BuddyThomas]

Out of interest, would you be ok with a musical whose "point" was to provide representation to white people?

You’re starting to get a little stalker-esque but since you bring it up, why in the world do you possibly think that there needs to be a musical whose “point” is to provide representation to white people? For the love of God, this thread has gone off the deep end.

 

[RobWDW1971]

This is getting ridiculous. One of the entire points of Hamilton is to provide representation to people of color.

The Michael Jackson musical is not to provide representation to white people.

So, just to be clear then, you are not open to colorblind casting of historical figures.

Got it.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Out of interest, would you be ok with a musical whose "point" was to provide representation to white people?

That’s like the entire history of entertainment… providing representation for white people.

That’s why making meaningful choices and decisions to put minorities on stage or in film is happening, and important, and why the white argument made by some is not to be taken seriously.

 

[Brian]

You’re starting to get a little stalker-esque

I believe it was deleted, but I remember you saying something earlier in the thread to the effect of: "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen." Also, for what it's worth, I asked you a simple question, and you answered it. This is a discussion board. Discussions are what happens here.

That said, you could always hit that "Ignore" button if you don't want to see my (or anyone else's) responses to your thoughts.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I believe it was deleted, but I remember you saying something earlier in the thread to the effect of: "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen." Also, for what it's worth, I asked you a simple question, and you answered it. This is a discussion board. Discussions are what happens here.

That said, you could always hit that "Ignore" button if you don't want to see my (or anyone else's) responses to your thoughts.

Great idea!

 

[BuddyThomas]

So, just to be clear then, you are not open to colorblind casting of historical figures.

Got it.

I’m not discussing this with you people anymore. You clearly don’t get the point and not do you want to get it.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I’m not discussing this with you people anymore. You clearly don’t get the point and not do you want to get it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Out of interest, would you be ok with a musical whose "point" was to provide representation to white people?

When whites are a small percentage of roles on Broadway over a long period of time, then there might be a case to be made for a need for them to have representation. Right now they are over represented on Broadway in proportion to the population, so there is no point to be made that they need representation.

According to AAPAC’s study, white actors were the most represented on stage, appearing in 58.6 percent of all roles on New York City stages (Broadway and non-profit Off-Broadway) accounted for, meaning they were over-represented by 25 percent to their population size in the city. Comparing year over year, Black performers were the only group to have increased visibility from the previous season, jumping from 23.2 to 29 percent. By contrast, Asian-American representation dipped from 6.9 to 6.3 percent, Latinx representation from 6.1 to 4.8 percent, MENA actors from two percent to 1.3, and Indigenous actors down to zero, from only .2 percent the season prior.

Generally, representation was more balanced on non-profit stages, where 45.5 percent of roles went to actors who were not white. However, Broadway surpassed the Off-Broadway sector when it came to hiring BIPOC performers in non-racially-specific roles (though they were twice as likely to be cast in chorus positions as opposed to principal roles).

Source

the source goes on to discuss the even more skewed percentages when you get into producing/leadership.

My one disappointment with this source is that the study apparently didn’t take data on disabled performers/creators - a marginalized population that continues to struggle to even be included in the discussion.

 

[Budd]

Before things get too much further into the realm of chaos here, let me remind us all that on one particular Christmas Eve way down in Whoville, a certain green Grinch impersonated a white Who Santa during his shenanigans and Christmas gift thieving. Nobody cared about the color of his skin..or fur or whatever Grinches are made of. All that mattered was that he eventually saw the error of his ways, repented, and returned all of the stolen Who loot. And that my friends is the true meaning of the holidays. Not the color of the deliverer, but the fact we're getting presents. Amen.

 

[Brian]

When whites are a small percentage of roles on Broadway over a long period of time, then there might be a case to be made for a need for them to have representation. Right now they are over represented on Broadway in proportion to the population, so there is no point to be made that they need representation.



Source

Using the topic at hand of black Santa, if Disney were to sample it's average demographics and find that roughly 15% of it's annual visitation is black (complete guess, I was never privy to those figures), would it be fair, in your opinion, to have +/- 15% of the CMs "hanging out" with Santa be black?

 

[Lilofan]

Using the topic at hand of black Santa, if Disney were to sample it's average demographics and find that roughly 15% of it's annual visitation is black (complete guess, I was never privy to those figures), would it be fair, in your opinion, to have +/- 15% of the CMs "hanging out" with Santa be black?

This type of assumption is beyond ridiculous.