Keeping It P.C.

This is a foto from my family´s nativity scene. I will talk about nativity scenes in general later, today I am going to focus on one particular character. Because, you see, it seems to be a widely accepted fact here in México (or at least Villahermosa) that among a cast of blindingly white angles, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, one of the three wisemen is of African descent. When they stand in a line he is always in the middle. In every public and private nativity scene I´ve come across, there is this one king whose skin tone is considerably darker than everyone else. 

I´m going to explain now: I think it´s about time we stop pretending that everyone at the stable was white. Really: It´s ok to say that Mary didn´t have golden ringlets. Racial diversity is cool, and I think we should reflect that in nativity scenes too. The "problem" if you will, that I have is not with the idea of a non-caucasian wise-man, but rather the manner in which it is presented down here. 

I´m hoping it´s a coincidence that he is the only figurine in my host family´s scene that doesn´t light up. I´m also trying to ignore the fact that in front of my brothers´school, the doctor´s office, and the bank every figure is full of lights during the night, except the king in the middle who is only outlined in lights....it actually makes me cringe a little. I´m not really sure why it seems offensive, it just seems like one of those things you shouldn´t do. ("One of those things you shouldn´t do" is a cultural baggage "Red-Flag" phrase, in case you´re interested)

Beacuse really- who am I to be offended? They must not mean badly. This is one of those things that if you asked people about, they would probably say they didn´t notice, or that it doesn´t matter. No one is try to be insensitive (I hope) to African-Mexicans, it´s just one of those things that stands out to me because I am a foreigner. Also coming from the U.S. I think we are more concerned with being P.C. in the states than any other country, but more on that later.

I guess I don´t have much of a point with this post. Just one of those little things that reminds me I´m really not Mexican. Also: all of the wise men should be light-up.