In the heart of many young Black believers in St. Nicholas lives a Black Santa.
So a Texas mom was understandably tired of only seeing white Santas when taking her children to the mall for holiday pictures and took matters into her own hands.
Jihan Woods created an app to help parents locate a Black St. Nick in their area, reported CBS.
“I really wanted my children to see a Santa Claus that looks like them,” Woods wrote on the app’s website. “It’s important to me that they experience diversity in all aspects of their lives, Santa included.”
The board-certified psychiatrist launched a Kickstarter campaign on October 9, 2018, to help fund the app and was able to raise $5,000 in just about 30 days. After the Kickstarter was successful, the mother to two twin boys developed the app, titled Find Black Santa. The app was launched last year just before the holiday season. The app lists Santas available in 35 states as well as Washington D.C.
The Find Black Santa app is free and available in the app store and Google Play.
According to Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, parents drive as long as an hour to have their children take pictures with a Black Santa at the museum located in St. Petersburg, Florida.
"The turnout is incredible — there are so few options as it relates to the availability of having an African American Santa," Scott said. "That self-esteem element even in the holiday season is so important.”
Woods used studies that found children with a positive attitude about their own racial identity do better in school and are "less likely to engage in risky behavior” while developing the app.
Amber Ravenel, CEO of the Ravenel Agency, had a similar idea to Woods back in 2017 when she launched an app that allows children to video chat with Black Santas. She created it after her niece refused to believe Santa could look like her, according to Vibe.
“When I grew up there was only one type of Santa, and no matter where I went they always looked the same,” Ravenel said. “Not one looked like me or anyone in my family. As our society becomes more and more diverse, I think it’s crucial that there is diversity and inclusion in all aspects of life, the tech tools we use and that should include Santa Claus as well."
The app, which can be purchased in the app store for just $2.99, has a pre-recorded message from Mr. Claus, urging children to be on their best behavior. Ravenel has plans to include different genders and races in the future.
Earlier this month, the St. Cloud community in Florida came together after a few residents took issue with their Christmas parade featuring a Black Mr. and Mrs. Claus, reports WESH 2.
Event manager for the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce LaTanya Newell and her boyfriend Alan Middlebrooks volunteered to play the jolly couple after they struggled to find someone to stand in. It was the first time the 40-year-old event would have a Black Santa and Mrs. Claus.
"We actually heard, 'Oh my goodness! They got a black Santa. That's awesome!'" Newell said. “We felt like the children didn't see color, they just saw Santa. It didn't matter what color he was.”
After the parade, one Facebook user commented they were “disgusted” to see a Black Santa in the parade. After the hateful comment, many residents of the community showed support for Newell and Middlebrooks.
"We've gotten responses back as a chamber where someone would like to see a Hispanic Santa next year. Why not? It shouldn't matter, it should not matter," Newell said. “Just the one person that maybe just needs to open their eyes a little bit more to see we are an ever-changing world and it shouldn't matter what color the person is that's making history. History was made.”
