The Absurdity of Labeling a Holiday Classic as Hateful.
Can you believe it? In a world drowning in real problems, Joy Reid—yes, that former MSNBC talking head who’s built her entire shtick on stirring up racial division—decides to go after “Jingle Bells.” That’s right, the cheerful Christmas tune about sleigh rides and winter fun is now, according to her, a symbol of bigotry.
She posted a video to her massive Instagram following, spotlighting a plaque in Medford, Massachusetts, where the song was supposedly penned. The caption? It claims the writer was a Confederate soldier mocking Black folks, tied to those offensive minstrel shows from the 1800s. Give me a break! This isn’t journalism; it’s desperate race-baiting designed to keep the outrage machine churning. If everything American, white, or even remotely traditional is “racist” in Reid’s twisted worldview, then why stop at holiday songs? Let’s just cancel snow while we’re at it—it’s too white!
Unmasking the So-Called ‘Racist’ Behind the Song
Let’s get the facts straight, because facts apparently don’t matter to professional provocateurs like Reid. The songwriter, James Lord Pierpont—uncle to the famous banker J.P. Morgan—was born in Massachusetts to an abolitionist father. He wrote “Jingle Bells” sometime in the 1850s, likely drawing from his snowy New England upbringing. Sure, when the Civil War hit in 1861, he ended up in Georgia and joined a Confederate unit.
But does that make every note he ever composed a hate crime? Hardly. The song predates his Confederate days by years, and there’s zero evidence it was meant to ridicule anyone, let alone Black people.
Minstrel shows were a dark part of American history, no doubt, but slapping that label on “Jingle Bells” is like calling apple pie a tool of oppression because some bad apples ate it. Pierpont’s life was complicated, but Reid cherry-picks the worst bits to fuel her narrative. It’s lazy, it’s dishonest, and it’s downright infuriating. How dare she smear a man’s legacy—and a beloved song—without a shred of real proof?
The Lyrics That Have Zero to Do with Race
Now, let’s actually look at the song itself. “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh…” Where’s the racism? Show me the line that mocks Black people, promotes slavery, or even hints at division. You can’t, because it’s not there. This is a ditty about joyrides in the winter, something folks in 19th-century Massachusetts— a mostly white, northern state—did for fun. No hidden codes, no dog whistles. Yet, to Reid and her ilk, anything rooted in white American culture must be tainted. It’s as if enjoying a harmless tradition is an act of supremacy. Newsflash: Singing about bells and horses doesn’t inspire hatred; it brings people together during the holidays. But no, in the fevered minds of these race hustlers, whiteness equals evil. It’s exhausting, it’s divisive, and it’s tearing at the fabric of our society. If “Jingle Bells” is racist, then what’s next? “Frosty the Snowman” for body-shaming? This nonsense has to stop!
The Real Motive: Perpetual Victimhood and Power Grabs
Why does Joy Reid keep pulling this crap? Simple: It pays the bills. Her career thrives on manufacturing outrage, painting every corner of American life as a battlefield of bigotry. By calling out “Jingle Bells,” she’s not fighting injustice; she’s keeping the spotlight on herself and her agenda. Liberals like her see racism everywhere because it justifies their endless grievances. It’s a power play—divide us by race, then swoop in as the saviors. But here’s the truth: Most Americans, Black, white, or otherwise, love this song without a second thought about skin color. Reid’s attack isn’t about history; it’s about eroding our shared culture. Everything white, American, or even Jewish (as she’s hinted at before) gets the racist stamp in her book. It’s ugly, it’s hypocritical, and it’s the real racism at work—judging everything through a lens of hate.
Bear in mind, Reid is not stupid; she is a Harvard graduate (1991, Film Studies) specializing in documentaries.
Manufactured Outrage Doesn’t Build a Better Country
This constant drumbeat of racial accusation doesn’t unite Americans or help anyone understand the real, tangible issues facing the country. What it does do is create division, resentment, and fatigue. People begin to tune out legitimate discussions about race because they’re overwhelmed with frivolous ones.
Pointing out actual injustice is important. Diluting the term “racism” by applying it to a Christmas carol is not.
Bottom Line: Time to Fight Back Against the Race-Baiters
Enough is enough. We can’t let charlatans like Joy Reid redefine our holidays, our history, or our harmless joys. “Jingle Bells” is a slice of innocent Americana, not a Confederate anthem. By crying wolf over nothing, she’s diluting real fights against actual racism. It’s time we call out these tactics for what they are: Cynical, attention-seeking BS. Let’s reclaim our traditions without apology. Sing “Jingle Bells” louder this Christmas, and tell the race-baiters to stuff it. America deserves better than this perpetual pity party.
We are so screwed.
— Steve
