Los Angeles (CNN) — Without an official announcement or fanfare, US Disney parks are including a Black Santa Claus in Christmas celebrations this year for the first time in the company's 66-year theme park history.
At both Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, a Black Santa has been spotted at certain meet-and-greets and at after-hours Christmas parties.
A Disney spokesperson told CNN that Santa Claus is represented in various ways in local and regional communities and around the world -- and in that spirit, Santa Claus will reflect the diversity of surrounding communities at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney parks are the latest place where families can see a non-White portrayal of Santa Claus, with more Black Santas appearing in recent years at shopping malls and in a recent Oreo cookie commercial.
On Friday, Old Navy is holding Santa Bootcamp , an online inclusive training program encouraging participation "from a broad array of backgrounds, ethnicities and cultural heritages to offer more representation in the role of Santa."
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As expected, Disney guests and the general public have taken to social media with strong opinions.
Twitter user @maciiannn posted: "I'm pretty sure I just caught the very first black Santa to ever be at Walt Disney World and I am seriously crying happy tears."
But Twitter user @hawksmurray commented on the news, saying "Everyone knows Santa isn't black they should not make a black Santa just for a pr stunt."
Some users replied to that, saying "Everyone knows Santa is not real."
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Victoria Wade, a theme park social media influencer who is Black, tweeted about the inclusion of a Black Santa at Disney parks, writing, "Never in life did I think disney would actually put a black Santa in the parks."
The move made her emotional and more likely to spend money attending the parks' Christmas parties, she said in her post.
"With Disney implementing this change as part of their diversity and inclusion initiative, it really allows me to feel more comfortable and seen when I visit the parks," she told CNN.
"Ultimately it makes me feel more accepted, welcome and I'm thrilled at what this will do for children of all backgrounds when they visit Disney parks."
BostonBrandToots on November 20th, 2021 at 03:30 UTC »
The Dutch:
...black elves too?
👀
ltburch on November 19th, 2021 at 20:40 UTC »
The helper santa and "santa magic" usually comes up for kids. How can santa be at the mall and also at the north pole? If parents can explain their way out of that I think they can explain their way out of a black santa as well.
So santa can deliver toys all over the world in a night but he can't be black? While we are suspending disbelief I think if you can swallow the first thing the second seems like small potatoes.
Moorevfr on November 19th, 2021 at 20:01 UTC »
God just tell your children these are his helpers because he’s away at busy at his workshop.. Colour size and shape and male and female doesn’t matter then.. My 5yr old pretty much came to this conclusion her self and thinks it makes sense.