Central Texas woman’s Black Santa collection celebrates representation and Christmas
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - By now, most homes are already decorated, some for a month, some a month and a half, but this home has had decorations up since mid September and here’s why.
When people walk into Dr. Bess Carpenter Dunner’s house for the first time, they notice the Santas immediately.
“You know, when people walk into my house, that’s never been here before they go, ‘Wow, all the Santas.’ And then they said they’re all black,” Dunner said. “You know, my response to them is, but I am too. So, my Santa’s look like me.”
Dunner has been collecting Black Santas for more than 50 years. She estimates she has around 2,000 figurines displayed throughout her home in bedrooms, hallways, on counters and bookshelves. Some stand tall on the floor, each in pristine condition with some still bearing their original price tags.
“I do that because I want my kids to go back and look and see the cost of things at the time that I bought them, and you see that it’s changed a lot over the years,” Dunner said. “Even last year this one was $49 and this year it’s $89.”
The price increases reflect growing demand for Black Santa figurines over the years. When asked about her total investment, Dunner said she knows and suspects she has spent thousands of dollars.
According to Santa.com, the concept of the Black Santa emerged in the early 1900s with actor Bill “Bojangles” Robinson dressing up as the Jolly Old Elf at events in Harlem. This practice spread to other Black communities across the country as African Americans sought representation in holiday traditions. Soon after, the figurines filled shelves of popular department stores.
“We saw a lot of the White ones, but we never saw any of the Black ones,” Dunner said. “So, when I started collecting, then that was going to be what I collected, because I wanted my kids to know that their Santa, and Mrs. Claus would look like them.”
Today, Facebook groups allow collectors to buy, sell, and trade Black Santa figurines. Collectors coordinate with others to find specific Mr. and Mrs. Claus pieces they want.
Dunner has particular affection for the Department 56 Possible Dreams collection, which contains intricate, handcrafted, hand-painted ceramic pieces. Each year, only a certain number of items are made, and once they sell out, they are likely gone for good.
The collection extends beyond Santa figurines to include up to 19 Christmas trees representing different themes, including the traditional red and green, the anniversary all white, and trees honoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The purple and gold trees represent her alma mater, Paul Quinn College.
Her children have grown accustomed to the extensive collection. What do your children think of all this? She interrupted, “Mama, Mama!” She said, “Go home if you don’t want to see my toys.”
This Christmas holds particular significance for Dunner, who beat breast cancer this year.
“You know this Christmas is a special Christmas for me because I had breast cancer this year and I beat it. You know, with God’s grace, I beat breast cancer,” she said. “So it’s a really good time for family, and I’m just really looking forward to having all of my grandkids, my kids just out here in the house at one time.”
For Dunner, Christmas means “giving all praises to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that is the first thing I think sometimes we forget about, the reason for the season.”
When asked what she wants for Christmas, Dunner said she has everything she needs. “I’ve just been blessed to have everything I ever wanted. Don’t buy me anything I don’t want. Buy me a Santa. So that’s what they do.
A couple of loose ends..
So does she put out everything? The answer is no with those 19 trees and their ornaments and all the santas plus if you notice there were other nice hints around the house, carousel’s polar bear family, lots of Christmas villages. There isn’t always room.
Where does she store her Christmas decorations? First, they are packed in the original packaging, especially Desantis. Then the ornaments and trees go in their own box so that when it’s time to unpack them, they are right there together and Donner says she knows when something is missing or broken, just like Santa and she can most likely pick out who’s gonna be on the naughty list and who’s gonna be on the next list.
And then this burning question.... why are so many santas or why santas at all?
When you find something that really speaks to you, it’s best to grab hold of it. For her mother, she collected angels. In fact, Dr. Dunner has an angel in her house now.
It’s amazing what these Santas can bring out of the mind and the heart and memories of a childhood Christmas spent around lots of relatives that you didn’t see every day. The Christmas that you could tell your family you fought and beat breast cancer, such an ugly disease. The amazement in the grandchildren’s eyes when they see the Santas and the villages and the inspiration they could get from the tribute trees, I’d like to call them. You can’t help but fFeel blessed and look forward to the next family gathering.
Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.
