Kaya Drive: Unteaching “white men are the main characters” narrative to kids

By: Natasha Archary

Aiming to raise his daughter to look up to strong black men and women, new dad Sandile van Heerden wanted to know how to unteach the “white men are the main characters” narrative to her.

As he adjusts into his new role, Kaya Drive’s sports presenter had a discussion with his wife on how they would tackle the introduction of Santa to their baby girl.

The fictional character has for centuries been a part of Christmas festivities, as little ones leave a glass of milk and cookies out for Santa in exchange for a gift.

Always depicted as a chubby white man with a white beard who travels the world on a reindeer-led flying sleigh, Santa is synonymously associated with Christmas.

Little boys and girls who are good make his “good list” and they will receive the gift they most want for Christmas. Naughty boys and girls go on the “bad list” and don’t get their dream gift.

It’s a narrative that many parents the world over pass down to their children with little thought.

Painting Santa as the “hero” of Christmas, the fictitious white man takes the credit for a parent’s hard work.

Changing the narrative that white men are the main characters

Santa aside, children’s books, movies and TV shows mostly feature main characters who are white. Until recently most of the main cartoon characters for children have all been white. With black children only being depicted as a friend or in a stereotypical and typecast manner.

For a long time even crayons excluded shades for people of colour with the only option, “peach” to represent white people included in a pack.

Movies are now gradually changing with the times with more black actors and actresses taking on the leading role.

Parent’s who are raising children of colour should be more mindful of the examples they’re setting for their children. Characters in books and cartoons are the first windows and mirrors for children as they grow.

It’s often how children learn about race and cultures and often there are limited resources for children of colour.

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche warned in her famous TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story:

“Stories matter. They have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.”

Choose toys, TV shows and characters that are racially inclusive for children. It’s the only way to filter the “whiteness” that is dominant in all facets of life.

One of the popular cartoons in recent years with a black main character is Doc McStuffins. It’s a Disney Junior TV show that has a black girl who is a doctor to toys as the leading character.