Podcast Summary: My Momma Told Me

Episode: "The Ghost of Episodes Past: The War on Christmas"

Hosts: Langston Kerman & David Gborie
Guest: Al Jackson
Date: December 23, 2025
Podcast Network: Big Money Players Network / iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This holiday episode of My Momma Told Me takes a hilarious deep dive into the so-called "War on Christmas," the perceived decline of Christmas traditions, and debates around Black holidays—especially Kwanzaa. Hosted by comedians Langston Kerman and David Gborie, the episode centers on satirical and insightful banter, with guest Al Jackson sharing thoughts on the shifting relevance of Christmas, the potential rise of Kwanzaa, and how holidays are co-opted by mainstream American culture. The trio challenges common narratives, injects personal stories, and ultimately questions what it means to have—and keep—holidays rooted in Black community tradition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debunking the "War on Christmas" (03:07–08:50)

• The hosts examine the rightwing conspiracy about a "War on Christmas." David dismisses the idea as silly, arguing that Christmas is still the dominant holiday in America.
  • David: "80% of households in this country still celebrate Christmas. You win." [04:06]
  • The irritation some people feel about "Happy Holidays" is mocked.
  • Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are jokingly referenced as being treated with far less seriousness.
• Langston plays devil's advocate, suggesting some interpret pressure to say "Happy Holidays" as symbolic of America's changing values and demographics.
  • Langston: "This is a transforming nation. And they would claim that the transformation itself is being reflected in the holidays of it all." [07:14]

2. Religious Shifts and Holiday Participation (08:50–09:49)

• David and Langston poke fun at the concern that other religions might be "rising up" to replace Christmas, with David noting the only real new communities he's noticed are "witches and Scientologists," and even then, only in certain regions.

3. Historical Roots & Capitalism’s Role in Christmas (11:27–13:50)

• After a commercial break, Langston shares research that modern Christmas is a relatively recent invention, primarily popularized during the Charles Dickens era.
  • Christmas as we know it—with gift-giving, "cheer," and Santa—is a 19th-century cultural construct, not an ancient tradition.
  • Langston: "Even Christmas as we celebrate it is not like this ancient…generation after generation type thing." [11:27]
• David notes that capitalism quickly latched onto and fueled the holiday's expansion.
  • David: "Valentine’s Day, right? It’s the modern day. They got you to start spending money and that’s when it blew up." [12:50]

4. Christmas Spirit: Real or Manufactured? (14:28–18:23)

• The hosts discuss whether the “Christmas spirit” is a genuine moral shift or merely a byproduct of slower schedules and nostalgia.
  • Both admit being nicer during the holidays mostly due to having fewer obligations, not because the holiday itself inspires lasting virtue.
  • Langston explains feeling the Christmas spirit primarily through sharing joy with his child, illuminating how parenthood revives holiday excitement.
    • Langston: "My daughter now understands what it means to receive gifts...she’ll, like, see stuff and be like, I want to give that to my cousin, and that’s beautiful and sweet..." [16:13]

5. Kwanzaa: Rise of a Black Holiday? (24:29–30:13)

Al Jackson’s Theory: Kwanzaa is Poised for Growth

• Al Jackson admits he never celebrated Kwanzaa much as a child but suggests it could be the next big thing as Christmas’ appeal wanes for new generations.
  • Modern kids aren’t as excited about Christmas morning due to the year-round accessibility of gifts.
  • Al: "My kids get up on Christmas morning like a hungover dad...the excitement is gone." [26:43]
• Kwanzaa’s focus on unity and values, combined with the social media generation’s appetite for causes, could fuel its rise.
  • Al: "You get a couple big people on that...Christmas is wobbly." [28:50]
• The commodification of Black culture (e.g., Juneteenth) is discussed, and how holidays rapidly shift from niche observances to national celebrations with mainstream (often white) participation.

6. Commodification & Cultural Ownership of Black Holidays (33:24–46:09)

• Comparison to how Juneteenth and MLK Day became mainstream, often losing their deep cultural specificity.
  • Langston: "Juneteenth is now...ubiquitous with the American holiday experience." [35:04]
• David and Langston raise concerns over holidays shifting from in-group, meaningful celebrations to widely marketed, diluted events.
  • Examples: White participation in formerly Black-centric holidays, brand involvement in Pride Month.
  • Al: "It's the price of admission to be accepted by the greater United States or zeitgeist culture...you have to give up the 'this is ours.'" [44:47]
• Tension between the benefits of popularity (resources, recognition) and the risk of losing cultural control and authenticity.

7. State Black Holidays & Defining Authentic Celebrations (60:09–70:10)

• A rundown of various state-recognized Black holidays, e.g., Rosa Parks Day, Emancipation Day (with multiple dates), Malcolm X Day, Barack Obama Day, and even George Washington Carver Day.
• Discussion of "Black Bike Week" and HBCU homecomings as organically Black holidays that remain vibrant because there is no demand for outside (white) validation or participation.
  • Langston: "Black Bike Week remains a black holiday because we don't demand that they participate in the shit." [49:09]

8. Should Holidays Be Universal or In-House? (52:22–58:40)

• Exploration of whether Black holidays should be kept insular or pushed for widespread adoption.
  • Drawing lessons from ethnic street fairs and Pride parades: true celebrations often retain a sense of “outsider art,” mystifying nonmembers just enough to keep the core intact but not exclusive.
  • Langston: "True cultural celebration should feel almost like outsider art." [55:30]
• The value of more resources and infrastructure that come with national recognition is acknowledged (e.g., Juneteenth festival funding).
  • David: "If we're getting more resources to this thing, I do think of it as a net positive." [58:40]
• However, Langston remains skeptical that institutional support is worth the subsequent dilution and commercialization.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David (on the supposed War on Christmas):
  "Shut up. Yeah, you're stupid. 80% of households in this country still celebrate Christmas. You win..." [04:06]
• Langston (on holiday spirit):
  "It's just an allegory. It's just a part of the year where we very briefly go, hey, we probably shouldn't be the worst version of ourselves right now..." [14:05]
• Al Jackson (on the kids’ reaction to Christmas):
  "My kids get up on Christmas morning like a hungover dad...the excitement is gone." [26:43]
• Al Jackson (on Kwanzaa’s future):
  "You get a couple big people on that...Christmas is wobbly." [28:50]
• David (on American commodification):
  "That's an American thing more so than it's even a black thing. What's being offered up in culture that isn't eventually gonna be co-opted by corporations?" [45:19]
• Al Jackson (on mainstreaming Black holidays):
  "It's the price of admission to be accepted by the greater United States or zeitgeist culture...you have to give up the 'this is ours.'" [44:47]

Important Timestamps

• 03:07: Episode theme introduced: the myth of a "War on Christmas."
• 11:27: Research on the real history and capitalist influences behind Christmas.
• 14:28: Personal reflections on holiday behavior and nostalgia.
• 24:29: Al Jackson introduces his Kwanzaa “on the come up” theory.
• 33:24: How holidays move from niche to mainstream—Juneteenth as a case study.
• 40:04: Debate over the pros/cons of mainstream adoption of Black holidays.
• 49:09: Discussion of Black Bike Week and HBCU homecomings as "real" Black holidays.
• 52:22: Questioning the value of national recognition vs. cultural authenticity.
• 58:40: Debate about the impact of pouring public resources into Black holiday celebrations.
• 60:09–70:10: Sidebar on state Black holidays, the legacy of George Washington Carver, and the creation of Black holidays.
• 71:07: Listeners encouraged to suggest a My Momma Told Me holiday.

Tone & Style

• The hosts and guest keep the discussion light, irreverent, and at times deeply insightful, blending jokes ("Big Kwanzaa in Detroit," [32:32]) with social commentary.
• Comedy is central—even as the podcast addresses serious questions about identity, commodification, and collective memory, laughter anchors the conversation.
• Self-deprecating asides (e.g., about parental duties, failed attempts to celebrate Kwanzaa, or holiday commercialism) make the conversation relatable even as it remains rooted in uniquely Black experiences.

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• The "War on Christmas" is skewered as a fabricated panic: Christmas is thriving, and holiday inclusion won’t erase it.
• Black holidays like Kwanzaa may soon experience a boom, possibly at the cost of authenticity, commercialized just as Juneteenth and Pride have been.
• Real "Black holidays" thrive when they’re for the culture, not out of a demand for mainstream acceptance or participation.
• The episode is equal parts sharp social critique and playful riffing, making it both meaningful and entertaining.

For Further Engagement

• Listener Challenge: Suggest a new holiday the show could champion, with hosts promising to commit if it’s funny and Black enough [71:07].
• Merge & Merch: Multiple mentions of new show merchandise, connecting back to the episode’s capitalist holiday themes—satirically, of course.

(End of summary)