Children's Book About Gay Black Santa Sparks Mixed Reactions
Santa Claus is a cheery black man in "Santa's Husband," a book that depicts the famed gift giver with a white husband. The book has continued to spark mixed feedback among social media users that are just catching wind of the book, which was published Oct. 11.
Author Daniel Kibblesmith and illustrator A.P. Quach collaborated to publish the Christmas-themed book marketed towards children. While it has managed to earn a four-star rating on Amazon, Kibblesmith came under fire for his book because it showcases the life of a black, gay Santa Claus and his seemingly happy life with his partner Mr. Claus.
"Offering a fresh twist on Kris Kringle, a clever yet heartfelt book that tells the story of a black Santa, his white husband, and their life in the North Pole," the book's Amazon description read. "Everyone knows that Santa Claus is jolly, but in Santa’s Husband, this cherished symbol of the holiday season is also black and gay, and married to an equally cheery man."
Many social media users weren't receptive to Kibblesmith's illustrated work as several individuals deemed the book as "liberal propaganda."
New book out for children. Santa is a gay black man, married to a white man. Social engineering, mocking holy season pic.twitter.com/jX8w8ytVjK
— Marty Carnegie (@MartyCarnegie) December 21, 2017
More sick Onion type propagandizing aimed at children. Liberal brain washing at its worst. SANTA IS A GAY BLACK MAN IN NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK – HERE’S WHO IS BEHIND IT https://t.co/vy1bxzRpII
— Gary Joe Republic (@tumult101) December 21, 2017
Santa marries a gay black man. What happen to Mrs Claus. #Liberalism101 to ruin American small children's belief in __ & totally confuse them. Good job!
— Calli (@cs6627) December 20, 2017
Soooooo @CNN is really trying to make “Santa’s Husband” a thing for children...
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 20, 2017
_https://t.co/BOn9unLlEz
There were several others that supported Kibblesmith's book, with some Amazon reviewers referring to the tale as an "absolute delight" or "charming story."
I’ve known @kibblesmith a long time & I bought this last night after seeing Star Wars. It’s just really really good. Thank u, Daniel. pic.twitter.com/QUqFVWdjri
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) December 21, 2017
Listen, it's 2017 y'all. When are we going to all just accept that #ZeldaIsTheBoy and Santa is black/gay and has a white husband? Can we all just grow up please?
— The Travis McElroy (@travismcelroy) December 20, 2017
Isn't everyone's Santa gay and black?https://t.co/Bo1Ot3EYB8
— LA LGBT Center (@LALGBTCenter) December 20, 2017
"Santa's Husband" is an all-ages book that introduces the world to Mr. and Mr. Claus for the first time ever. Readers get a glimpse into the married couple's life and shared activities, which include sitting by the fire at their home in the North Pole and vacationing at the beach. Kibblesmith even shows the pair stumbling upon the occasional disagreement.
Most importantly, the book is meant to serve as a reminder that "Santa Claus can come in all shapes and colors and sizes — just like the children and families he visits all over the world each Christmas eve," according to it's Amazon description.
"It started, like all great works of literature, as a Twitter joke," Kibblesmith said to VICE News. "My wife and I were reacting to this sort of annual deluge of war on Christmas. Last year, when the Mall of America hired a black Santa Claus, we made a joke on Twitter that said: 'If we have a child, they'll only know about black Santa Claus and if they see a white Santa Claus at the mall, we'll just say 'Oh, that's Santa's husband.'"
"My illustrator, A.P. Quach, jumped into my mentions and said: 'Boom, new children's book,'" Kibblesmith added.
"Santa's Husband" retails for $11.72 on Amazon.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.