President Barack Obama is not the only American public figure that is black! Meet Jackie and Shaun Rodgers. The husband and wife tandem and owners of Greentop Gifts have introduced a new version of Santa Claus into the homes of black families. It all began when the husband and wife decided that they wanted an image that their son could see and appreciate during the holiday season. After shopping around and not seeing any images that represented African-Americans, they created their own.

They’ve even got their own names, like Clarence Claus. Clarence is a reinvented version of Santa and represents what was missing during the holiday season – wrapping paper and products that featured the “jolly” old man from the North Pole but this time with a chocolate complexion!    

“Children of color need to believe in, look up to and be inspired by people who represent who they are,” Jackie Rodgers told RESPECT MAG via e-mail. “It’s important for children to know that their heroes and role models come in all shapes and sizes.”

A cursory look through Greentop Gifts look book gives you a gauge into all of the different cool Christmas-ey things. Check it out for yourself.

Clarence Claus is the first product line from Greentop Gifts which offers wrapping paper, gift bag labels, mugs, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies with Clarence’s likeness. For more info on that and more visit: www.greentopgifts.com.

Suggested Reading: 

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Greentop Gifts Introduces Black Santa Claus During Christmas appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.