So I was a little concerned accompanying Mum on a trip to Amsterdam for the Tulip Festival she was attending. I just didn't want to be strolling along with her and then make some turn and find ourselves in the Red Light District. Would be waaaaay too awkward and actually, I myself have never had the desire to see a bunch of immigrant women prostituting their way to "a better life" in Western Europe. Or anywhere, really.
Enter the only place that infringed on comfort: The Christmas Palace.
It was a pleasant afternoon as we meandered through the Flower Market. Mum was disappointed to find out that she couldn't buy bulbs here to take back to the States because they weren't the ones for export with some type certificate. So all she could do is look and imagine her garden back home accented with Dutch tulips that wouldn't be. (Later she placed orders for the export ones that they send you in a few months, but I digress.)
So we keep walking and come to Christmas Palace where we go in so she can buy some ornaments cause she likes to pick a few up on international travel.
As she approaches the register with me following, she turns back to ask my opinion on some ornament. In that moment, I notice a "Ken" doll on a column just behind her shoulder. It sort of stands out to me because the Ken doll is black and I'm black and we are in a decidedly NON-black country. Ken is wearing a Christmas robe, with a partially bared chest peaking out of the red robe with fluffy white trim.
And then I notice the large, out of proportion, 2.5-inch penis protruding out of the robe (was not erect).
Mom is looking at me waiting for an answer. I stutter a hasty reply, then tell her I will be outside and I got the hell out of the store as fast as my feet could carry me, hoping she does not see that doll so prominently displayed by the register of a CHRISTMAS STORE. As a non-practicing Episcopalian even I find something a bit inappropriate about this irrespective of how "commericial" Christmas has become. Being an American (read: prude) certainly didn't help, and being a Black American even less so.
A Christmas Shop. Who knew. read more