[ad_1]
Chris Kennedy has embraced the spirit of Christmas three years after receiving a racist note criticizing his Black Santa display. He is now a professional Santa Claus, attending both local and out-of-state events as “Santa Chris”.
In 2020, Kennedy received a racist note demanding the removal of the Black Santa inflatable displayed in his yard. Instead of backing down, Kennedy and his wife, Iddy, continued to display the Christmas decoration to provide Black representation for their seven-year-old daughter.
The incident went viral after Kennedy posted about it on Facebook. In response, his neighbors showed support by putting up Black Santas in their own yards. Kennedy decided to become a professional Santa Claus in defiance of the racist note, and his business has thrived ever since.
One of the most empowering parts of embodying Santa for Kennedy is bringing more diverse representation to other Black people. He has also found new ways to embrace the role, such as by using temporary paints for a salt-and-pepper effect on his “jet Black” beard, and participating in a Black Santa Facebook group with other black Santas.
Despite the negative start, Kennedy’s business as a professional Santa has grown significantly, and he has been booked for numerous events and appearances since the start of the most recent season. His wife and daughter also play roles in his appearances as Mrs Claus and Santa’s head elf, respectively.
In the coming seasons, Kennedy looks forward to continuing to develop how he portrays Santa, and he hopes to create a literacy organization to bring diverse Christmas stories to children. Despite the negative beginning, Kennedy is glad to continue playing the role for many who simply know him as Santa Chris.
[ad_2]