The Daily Show: Ears Edition - ICYMI - CP Time: Black Christmas

Episode Date: December 24, 2020

Roy Wood Jr. looks back at the racially charged history of "Jingle Bells," America's first Black mall Santa and the lack of toys geared toward African-American children. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes. It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives. But that's all about to change. Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Minutes, a second look, starting September 17th, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to CP time.

The only show is for the culture. Today, we discuss black people and the joyful festive holiday of Christmas. So let's start with slavery. Because remember, black people weren't celebrating Christmas before that. None of us were on the boat ride over here going, Follal-la-la-la-deck the halls. But once they were in America, many slaves begin to see Christmas for the blessing that it was.

A chance to escape why their owners were away for the holidays. The great abolitionist Harriet Tubman even used Christmas to free her three brothers, which may sound good to you, but if I let my sister free me around Christmas, I'd never hear the end of it. Every year she'd be like, oh, thank you so much for the slippers. This almost as good as the gift I got you last year, not shackles. And then I'd be like, shut up, Bernice.

You ruin the holidays. Of course, music is an important part of Christmas and black people have been covering and improving the classics for years, like let it snow by boys to men. Or do you hear what I hear by me? Here's a sample. Do you hear what I hear? Sounds like oppression. But some holiday music is tainted with a history of racism, like the classic jingle bells, which at first, just seems like an innocent song about reckless driving. But back in 1857, its first public performance was part of a minstrel show sung by a bunch of white dudes in Blackface.

It's a terrible legacy. And that's why every time I see a one horse open sleigh I key that shit for justice. But it is also important to recall the true reason we celebrate Christmas. Santa, the breakthrough for black Santa's was in 1943, when one of Harlem's biggest department stores hired the country's first Black Santa Claus, which surely was a distraction for customers who didn't know what was going on. I'm sure they was all like, who's a niggin' the red jacket

talking to my child? After that, Black Santas took a 70-year L until two years ago when Larry Jefferson became the first Black Santa at the White-ass Mall of America. A victory for our people. Mostly because Larry used his employee discount to get all the black people he knew 20% off. A hero indeed. But Chris Kringle would be nothing without the gifts he brings. The toys. Without the toys, Santa's just a fat bastard that broke in your house.

And for decades, manufacturers didn't even consider making toys for black children. And when they finally did, some of them would just paint white dolls black. Like this Willie talked doll. Look at that. Looks like Willie got thr just paint white dolls black. Like this Willie Talk doll. Look at that. Looks like Willie got thrown into a bonfire. But the great thing about kids is they'll like whatever you give them because children are not very intelligent. Like my favorite toy when I was a youngster was Mr. Chomp-chump.

Oh, I'd play with Mr. Chompi-chump for hours. I make them gobble, I make them talk to me, and lose all his teeth. Took me 45 years to realize this. Mr. Chompi-Chump was a stapler. A good friend Cornell West told me that. That's all the time we have for today. I'm Roywood Jr. This has been CP time. And remember, before the culture, make sure you put my website up at the end so people can order a compact disc and cassettes. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Ears Edition.

Watch the Daily Show week nights at 11th, 10 Central on Comedy Central and the Comedy Central app. Watch full episodes and videos at the Daily Show.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to the Daily Show on YouTube for exclusive content and more. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes. It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives.

But that's all about to change. Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Minutes, A Second Look, starting September 17th, wherever you get your podcasts. This has been a Comedy Central Podcast.