It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without at least one gift exchange sparking controversy online. One such moment came from a video shared by a Black mother in Florida that quickly caught attention.
In the short clip, the mom filmed her young son as he struggled to open a present she had bought for him. As she encouraged him, she eventually stepped in and started unwrapping the gift herself. When the wrapping came off, it revealed a children’s book titled Stay Away From Sneaky Snow Bunnies by Jay Star.
The moment the family realized what the book was, they burst into laughter, setting the tone for a video that would soon spark plenty of reactions online.
A children’s book isn’t usually something that sparks controversy, but this one quickly did. The book centers on two Black boys whose parents warn them to stay away from “snow bunnies.” While that may sound harmless at first, the title raised eyebrows for many viewers.
The term “snow bunnies” is commonly used as slang to refer to White women, which led some people to label the book as racist. Because there has long been public discourse and sensitivity around relationships between Black men and White women, some felt the story reinforced negative stereotypes or messages.
As a result, what started as a lighthearted family moment quickly turned into a broader debate about language, intent, and whether the book crossed a line.
People Reacting to the Florida Mom’s Gift
The video shared by the Florida mom quickly received mixed reactions from internet users. Through the comments the mom left and also liked, it was clear that she bought the book with the intention of teaching her son the “racist” context. As many Black individuals celebrated this in the comments, one Black woman wrote, “This is so weird.” This made her receive backlash as one person replied, “Weird for training a child to stay away from their enemy? Naw not at all.” Another person told her, “A book teaching the youth to stop pedestalizing the type of women that aided in our destruction, and continued oppression, is what you think will set us back? A hit dog will holler.”
More comments from the Florida mom helped clarify what she meant when she bought the book. When one person joked, “It’s gonna be so funny if he grows up and brings one home,” the mom replied, “You know that would be fine, but ain’t no searching for them,” a comment many interpreted as a reference to White women.
Several Black commenters voiced support for her choice. One woman wrote, “One of my biggest fears is my son bringing one of those home. I need this book ASAP.” Another added, “I bought this book when I found out I was having a boy. I read it to him religiously.”
While opinions on the book and the mom’s intentions remain divided, many agreed that the gift and the conversation it sparked were certainly memorable.
