I expected to leave the Holly Jolly Follies feeling warm-hearted after a night of family-friendly fun. Instead, I left frustrated and disappointed. While there were a few magical moments, there were too many offensive and inappropriate acts for a family program. The most offensive for me came in a skit that referred to “the Orient,” a term that is outdated and widely considered offensive. The skit stereotyped and conflated Asian cultures, as well as Mexican culture. It made these cultures into a spectacle, diminishing them. By laughing and applauding, we teach children that such stereotypes are okay. Some might say it was “all in good fun.” I say it is not fun to do harm to others.

I write this not to call out but to call us all in to a discussion of the harms of stereotyping and cultural appropriation, and our responsibility to let each other know when we do something harmful. We need to be more accountable for what we accept as okay. We have a responsibility as a community and as part of a global community. I believe we can do better.

The high point of the evening, for me, was when the preschool ballerina class danced while Holly Davis beautifully sang and played the harp. That was the kind of magical moment I had hoped for. For next year, please, I call for more holly and less folly.

Tia Heywood