In August 1968, James Brown said it loud, “I’m Black and I’m Proud!” This song transformed the “Godfather of Soul” into more than an entertainer, he was now a musical militant. This change was catalyzed by the April 4 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By December of ‘68, the self-proclaimed “Minister of Super Heavy Funk” boldly interceded with Santa by ordering him to “go straight to the ghetto” 12 times in one song.
Perhaps Brown urged Santa 12 times to go with the 12 days of Christmas? One thing is for certain: Minister Brown’s boldness didn’t emanate from anger. Empathy was his motivator, as seen in the following lyrics:
Santa Claus, go straight to the ghetto…
You know that I know what you will see
‘Cause that was once me…
Go straight to the ghetto
Never thought I’d realize
I’d be singing a song with water in my eyes
Santa Claus, go straight to the ghetto
Don’t leave nothing for me
I’ve had my chance, you see?
BE THE SANTA YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD
“Soul Brother Number One” was moved by the words of his own song. Brown dressed up in a red suit and delivered 3,000 gift certificates so people in need could have free Christmas dinners. Aren’t gestures like this in keeping with the clichéd “reason for the season”?
At His first advent, Jesus was born and raised in underfunded and overpoliced ghettoes and died in a state-sponsored lynching. At His second advent, Jesus will reward those who fed Him when He was hungry and visited Him when lonely by ushering them into “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
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