HOLIDAY WHITE-OUT

Guest Editorial by Carole J. Mayo

As a poor, black child growing up in a small town in Kentucky, outside of Louisville, we always looked forward to the Christmas holidays.  As poor as we were, we still looked forward to Christmas with hope.  One of the most enjoyable holiday activities was putting up our Christmas tree.  Surprisingly enough, we usually had a decent tree.  For years, we made many of our own ornaments out of construction paper of various shapes, sizes, and colors.  We spread on a little glitter with flour paste and finally made red and green garland to wrap around the tree. 

We always bragged about our tradition of putting up our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.  Sure, we knew that many people put up trees as early as a week before Christmas, but that was not OUR family tradition.  It was not until many years into adulthood that I learned the truth about this family Christmas Eve tradition.   As the family talked about Christmases past, my mother pointed out the reason we created that tradition.  The hay market closed down early on Christmas Eve and we were usually there at the last minute buying reduced apples, oranges, a bag of mixed nuts, peppermint sticks and perhaps a bag of hard candy.  Then we would go the area where the workers were tossing out the unsold Christmas trees.  We were allowed to pick a tree as large as we could carry to take home to decorate for Christmas.  We had a great tree…. fir, pine, cypress, spruce, whatever we wanted and more than we could ever afford… and it cost us nothing.  How ingenious and creative was that! 

It is time for African Americans to again demonstrate our ingenuity and creativity in the way we spend money.  This year we want family, friends and associates to know that you still don’t have to break the bank to have an enjoyable Christmas celebration.  There are many reasons why we should refrain from excessive spending during the holidays but the concept of an Economic WHITE OUT during the Christmas holidays is multi-faceted.

I was recently impressed, overwhelmed and extremely proud of the victory won by students, faculty and athletes at Missouri State University.  I have not seen such an expression of solidarity among African Americans since the Montgomery bus boycotts and sit-in demonstrations.  In order for these protests to be successful, everybody had to participate, sacrifice and cooperate.  Workers did not ride the bus and individuals, churches and businesses who owned vehicles helped transport people to their jobs, grocery stores, church, etc.   Certainly, we have protested various issues and events since the boycotts of the 1960’s, but we have never collectively experienced the power of seriously impacting the economy as the young people accomplished at Missouri, in order for their voices to be heard.

In 2015 on the brink of 2016, there is a desperate need for Black voices to be heard and Black Power to be exerted.   We are experiencing overwhelming turmoil, degradation, and destruction in our homes, communities, streets, and schools.  There is an overt, organized effort to destroy our black institutions of higher education (HBCUs) and create pipelines to prison in our elementary and secondary schools.  We are the prostitutes of conspicuous consumption in every industry; health and beauty products; hair weaves, nails, eyelashes, designer clothes, shoes, purses, and high priced vehicles, etc., and we have never demanded anything in return for our product loyalty to Nike, Coach, Michael Kors, Mary Kay or Cover Girl, Samsung or Apple; Mercedes, BMW or Lexus….not even JOBS.

This Christmas, we can make a difference. THIS CHRISTMAS we can exert our creativity and ingenuity and see just how much BUYING POWER AFRICAN AMERICANS POSSESS.  WHAT IS OUR VALUE TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY?  IF WE DON’T BUST OUT THE LINES AT WALMART AND BEST BUY, HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE LOST IN SALES?  Can the American economy afford for African-Americans and like-minded Americans to WHITE-OUT their BLACK FRIDAY Christmas sales?  This is so logical it escapes reason!!!!

First of all, for us as a family of believers, taking the focus off conspicuous consumption (wanting to buy what everyone else is ‘probably’ getting) will help our families focus more on the true meaning of Christmas, The celebration of the Birth of Christ.

Secondly, After Christmas, overstocked items are sold at greater discounts than before Christmas.  Buy the kids some coloring books, crayons, puzzles, books and a rubber ball at the dollar or $.99 store, if you have to buy something.  Tell them your tradition is to celebrate the gift giving part of Christmas after the regular holiday. (You know, like the Christmas Eve Christmas decoration thing.)  Start buying stocks, bonds, create college savings accounts, or purchase life insurance for uninsured family members instead of buying trinkets that have no value.

Thirdly, you avoid all the stress and frustration of Christmas shopping and enjoy other celebrations at church, school, social clubs and organizations much more.  Many of these activities focus on giving to others, which again emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas.  For God so loved the world that he GAVE………..

Finally, you can become part of a MOVEMENT to WHITE OUT CHRISTMAS and make Black Voices Heard.  The American economic and political systems only respond to the Almighty Dollar.  African Americans have billions of dollars that can “speak truth to power” in 2015 and on into the future.  This we must do if we want to “be the head and not the tail”.  The Almighty God says “I have not given you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  A WHITE OUT requires freedom from the fear of being ridiculed, ostracized and criticized by our family members and others and also tremendous self-discipline.  As we realize the power we have to effect change in this manner, we will become less fearful and more motivated to take control of our families, our schools, and our communities.