"I remember my daddy taking my older sister and me to take pictures with Santa Claus.  It would be a few days before Christmas and I had a long list of all the cool toys I wanted.  Meeting Santa was my chance to ask him to bring me presents, especially those new Cabbage Patch Kid dolls and Barbie dolls.  And of course, I was also excited to have my picture taken with Santa!

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Now as a parent, I take my sons to take pictures with Santa Claus.  Although Santa with a different hue is not advertised as much, I want my children to have a place during the holidays where they are flooded with positive images of a Santa Claus that looks just like them.  I want them to know that there is a Santa that looks like them, and who is excited to see them and ready to hear what they want for Christmas and take a picture with them.

 

I am so proud to be a Black woman.  I feel so privileged that I was flooded with images of Black beauty, pride, and cultural awareness.  I remember growing up with Black Enterprise, Jet and Ebony magazines on my living room table.  I remember my parents encouraging me to speak my mind, and that my sister and I were beautiful and intelligent and could do anything we wanted to do.  I appreciated my beautiful brown skin and always thought I was smart and beautiful because I was surrounded by my family and media in my home that showcased positive images of people with brown skin just like me."

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- Jeannéa Baptiste, Esq.

Founder of Santa Like Me