Charli Dance has her first Christmas photo with Black Santa.
This holiday season, the Northwest African American Museum featured a black Santa in efforts to break down racial barriers that sometimes form with the tradition of an old, rosy-cheeked white Santa. Rainier Beach native Gabriel Quesada recently interviewed with KUOW in association with his appearance as Black Santa. He revealed his upbringing, explaining how he never understood why he could never find a Santa that looked like him. As an adult, Quesada loves the ability to show kids that old traditions can evolve, and racial barrier can be broken.
Photographer Keenan Hart initially approached Quesada with the idea of black Santa, the same jolly old man in a red suit who was more relatable and approachable to nonwhite children. In his interview, Quesada cited President Obama and stated, “I don’t want to say it’s bigger than Santa, but if there’s a colored Santa, there can be a colored anybody.”
Though Quesada’s tenure at NAAM is over for the season, he will ho-ho-ho-ing at From Bottom 2 Top Photography (901 Occidental Ave S.) from noon to 8pm, December 17-24. The Downtown Nordstrom has also been featuring multi-ethnic Santas, but only at specific times–call (206) 628-1000 for the schedule.
