Santa Claus Is a Black Man facts for kids
"Santa Claus Is a Black Man" is a special Christmas song from 1973. It was created by a talented music producer named Teddy Vann. His young daughter, Akim Vann (known as Akim), sang the main vocals. This song is often described as Teddy Vann's unique version of the classic "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". Over the years, it has become a very popular and well-loved song, especially during the Christmas season. People still enjoy hearing it on the radio today.
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How the Song Was Made
Teddy Vann wrote "Santa Claus Is a Black Man" as a Christmas present for his daughter, Akim. She was only five years old when she sang on the recording. The song is a soul song, which is a type of music with strong rhythms and emotional singing.
The lyrics tell the story of Akim seeing her mom and Santa Claus dancing. She notices that Santa looks a lot like her own dad!
Why This Song Is Important
Teddy Vann cared a lot about helping young people. He wanted this song to give a positive message and make young African-American children feel proud. The song also mentions Kwanzaa, which is a holiday that celebrates African-American culture. Teddy Vann was very active in promoting Kwanzaa in his hometown of Brooklyn.
Teddy Vann's Other Work
Teddy Vann later became famous for another song. He helped write "Power of Love/Love Power" with the famous singer Luther Vandross in 1991. For this song, Teddy Vann even won a special award called a Grammy Award.
About the Song's Use in a Collection
Years later, in 2004, a film director named John Waters wanted to include "Santa Claus Is a Black Man" on his Christmas music collection, A John Waters Christmas. However, Teddy Vann did not want his song to be used. He felt that John Waters was not a "mainstream" artist, meaning he wasn't widely known by everyone.
Teddy Vann believed his song should only be used in ways that matched its positive message. Because of this, he took legal action against John Waters for using the song without his permission.
