News Disney plans to include a black Santa Claus at Walt Disney World this year as the company continues its diversity and inclusion program

[castlecake2.0]

He’s greeting Cast at EPCOT today and he looks wonderful!

 

[monothingie]

I'm saying that it is rather ridiculous to criticize them for what they might do. If they actually market this, feel free to criticize them. But criticizing them for what they might do snacks of just criticism for criticism's sake.

Also, Steve gets info from many sources, not just PR. So now your saying Steve is doing stuff just for clicks?

Last time I checked, this was a discussion board and I was allowed to speculate. Feel free to disagree and we can discuss. (As we are doing now)

All sites, including this one, want to get clicks, they pay for the site. However unlike some unscrupulous others, @wdwmagic gets the clicks because he runs a solid site.

 

[mikejs78]

Our kids meet Santa every year, usually at the mall, and at Christmas we line the pictures up on our mantle. Clearly, the Santas are all different men. We have told our kids from the start that Santa is far too busy to visit every mall and Christmas event in the world so he sends out helper Santas. But, you never know if you’re meeting the real Santa or a helper Santa so it’s always important to be polite, happy and kind. They’ve literally never questioned it

My parents did the exact same thing with us growing up. And we are doing that with our kids.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

The same way they might see live nativities, artwork, etc, depicting the real image of Jesus.

Depictions are different than being told that the person in front of you is the real thing.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Regardless, more specific to this topic, historical St. Nicholas was of Greek decent. And most people (I think) would consider "Greeks" to be "White" even if they tend to be darker/olive skin, dark hair and eyes, etc. than northern European. Which is more a reflection about how imprecise and stupid classifying anyone by "race" really is.

I won’t be surprised if that’s what we get, everyone can relate to an olive skinned Santa and it’s a subtle change. Disney likes being inclusive but they are subtle, they’ve been introducing gay characters into cartoons for about a decade now but they aren’t in your face about it, it’s a hint, a nod… everyone should expect a light skinned black man which will anger the far right for being too dark and anger the far left for being too light.

 

[brb1006]

Santa is a fictional character who happens to be white.

Santa is fictional. He can be any race.

Shush, don't say that out loud, children might be visiting this site! And I don't care if people claim he's fictional, he's real dammit!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Thank you for clarifying, apologies for my assumption. I agree with that notion but I do think it could be confusing for kids who are taught to believe he is one, real person. I think removing him is better overall.

I grew up seeing black & white Santas. I can't ever recall questioning his race. I was just thrilled to seecSanta.
Most kids won't even care. They just see Santa.

 

[mikejs78]

Last time I checked, this was a discussion board and I was allowed to speculate. Feel free to disagree and we can discuss. (As we are doing now)

All sites, including this one, want to get clicks, they pay for the site. However unlike some unscrupulous others, @wdwmagic gets the clicks because he runs a solid site.

And last I checked, I'm free to challenge your speculation.

One thing we agree on though is that @wdwmagic runs a solid site, probably the best Disney parks fan site.

 

[mikejs78]

Depictions are different than being told that the person in front of you is the real thing.

Who said you have to tell your kids that he's the real thing?

 

[Disney Analyst]

I was just thinking while watching the debut of the parade “why has there never been a black Santa? This needs to change”.

Thank you Disney!

 

[sullyinMT]

Depictions are different than being told that the person in front of you is the real thing.

Fair enough. I was always sold the helper Santa idea, and never thought the guy at the mall or in the parade was the real deal. Or, if he was, I’d never have known it.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Y’all can bicker all you like but Santa is already greeting Cast at Epcot today, and he looks fantastic! The Cast are loving him. I’d keep an eye on the WDW Cast & Community FB page to see if any photos pop up.

 

[mikejs78]

I grew up seeing black & white Santas. I can't ever recall questioning his race. I was just thrilled to Santa.
Most kids won't even care. They just see Santa.

Kids in general really are colorblind.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

He’s greeting Cast at EPCOT today and he looks wonderful!

I need a report on the authenticity of his belly and his beard. Please and thank you.

 

[Figgy1]

but I'm going with the person who puts on the suit is Santa, has to be back at the North Pole by Christmas.......................................... and has an awesome snow globe collection

 

[castlecake2.0]

I need a report on the authenticity of his belly and his beard. Please and thank you.

The beard is on point.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Kids in general really are colorblind.

But that's not what we're told. We're told that Representation Matters (TM).

 

[brb1006]

I don’t think there will be an announcement.

Maybe that's a good thing, I can already see the tweets right now if they did announce this publicly.

 

[mikejs78]

But that's not what we're told. We're told that Representation Matters (TM).

Oh don't start.

 

[Brian]

Looking forward to Hispanic Belle, white Tiana, black Cinderella, etc.