More Diversity Sought Among Mall Santas

NBC-17 ^ | NBC-17

[doubleA]

DURHAM, N.C. -- At shopping malls across the region, Santa Clauses are greeting lines of children and listening to their Christmas wishes.

But some parents don't like the homogeneity of the men behind the white beard and red suit, and one group of mothers is bringing diversity to the North Pole.

"We would like to see Santas of all ethnicities that represent all children," said Tammy Cruell, of Mocha Moms, a group of African-American stay-at-home mothers.

Mocha Moms plans a Dec. 10 party at the Hayti Heritage Center, in Durham, that will feature the only African-American Santa in the region this year.

One of two Santas working at Crabtree Valley Mall is bilingual, but the Santas at other Triangle malls are white, speak only English and don’t know sign language, officials with the various malls said.

Afraid of meeting up with a Santa just like that, Tina Ndoh has avoided taking her two children to see Santa for years.

"It wasn't high on our priority list because I knew they wouldn't see a Santa that looks like them," Ndoh said.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I got all the diversity ya need, right here...