They Called Me a “N***er,” But Our Kids Call Me Black Santa: A Critical Update from The Black Santa Project

Dear Black Santa Family,

In the spirit of transparency, I want to share the challenges we have faced this year in our mission to bring joy to Denver kids, as well as our next steps. First, I want to acknowledge that this letter is lengthy, but it’s important to provide a full picture of the challenges we are facing in our mission to bring holiday gifts to children in our communities. For months, we have endured mental and emotional abuse, consistent policy shifts without explanation, and have been subjected to profane comments and racial slurs from the Denver Toys for Tots campaign. We can no longer remain silent, as their actions now jeopardize the ability of many community organizations to support children during the holidays. We know we are not alone, and we will no longer be afraid to speak out.

Since 2021, the Black Santa Project has been sustained in part through toys donated by the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign, a partnership that has helped us serve thousands of families during the holiday season. However, this year we encountered unprecedented obstacles after uniting community partners to host one large, collaborative event aimed at promoting unity and avoiding competition for the same limited resources.

In previous years, Toys for Tots distributed up to 1,200 toys per organization. Last year, that number was reduced to 800 and this year it was reduced to 400 toys per nonprofit. Despite this setback, we sought consent from various partners to streamline the process by signing up on their behalf and collecting toys collectively. This approach was designed to simplify logistics for all involved. However, since October, we have faced significant pushback, arbitrary rule changes, and blatant disrespect from the Marines and volunteer staff overseeing the Greater Metro Denver Toys for Tots campaign.

In early October, after submitting our applications for toys, we were asked to meet with the individuals overseeing the campaign because our initial applications were denied. The reason given was that “What you all have done has never been done in the 75-year history of Toys for Tots.” During this meeting, we highlighted several inconsistencies in their policies and practices. For instance, we were told we could not collaborate with other partners, despite no such restrictions being mentioned on their website or application. Similarly, we were informed that the Black Santa Project could not serve as the point of contact for multiple organizations, even though this limitation was not outlined in their published guidelines.

We also requested a unified pickup time to minimize logistical challenges and avoid multiple U-Haul rentals — a request that was flatly denied. When we highlighted that the rules being imposed on us did not exist on their website at the time of application the response was “These are not our rules and you would need to take it up with the National Foundation.” We later learned that directly after that meeting Sergeant Jarod Maxon directed the volunteer coordinator to retroactively alter the website. When it was suggested that we might have screenshots of the original rules, Sgt. Maxon insulted us, claiming we were “Those fuckers are too dumb to take screenshots beforehand.” However, he failed to remember that each application submitted sends a copy to each organization and those rules were not reflected in any of our applications.

Despite these barriers, we managed to pick up an order for one of our partners on November 25th, only to find that the promised 400 toys per organization had been arbitrarily reduced to 200 without any prior notification.

On the same day, we learned that other Denver-based nonprofits were granted the very accommodations we had been denied, including unified pickups and collaborative efforts. This glaring inequity forces us to ask a critical question: Why? — and What is different about our organizations than theirs?

When we asked how this issue would be resolved, given that all of our partners had been approved for 400 toys, we were told there were no additional toys available at that time and if any toys remained at the end of the distribution period, we would be required to go to a U.S. military base to retrieve them.

What followed was deeply troubling. After our discussions with the Marines running the Denver campaign, support staff within the campaign informed us that members of our team, including MiDian Shofner and myself, had been dehumanized and subjected to profane comments, including the use of racial slurs such as “n***ers.” This hateful language is unacceptable and represents a level of systemic racism that cannot — and will not — be tolerated.

Despite the dehumanization we endured, we persisted for our kids. In a subsequent meeting with Sergeant Major King on November 26th, overseeing the Marines running the campaign, we expressed our concerns and were assured by both Sergeant Major King and Sgt. Maxon that every partner organization would receive their approved 400 toys and those given 200 would be filled to the original approval count of 400 toys. We were also promised a unified pickup day, allowing us to collect toys on behalf of all partner organizations. However, we later learned that this promise was hollow.

The reason for this discriminatory treatment became apparent: the name “The Black Santa Project” and our mission to diversify the Santa experience for Black, Brown, and Indigenous kids. This blatant bias was further compounded by arbitrary enforcement of rules.

After days of silence from the campaign, we reached out again to request toy pickups, knowing that a new shipment of toys had arrived. On December 6th, were informed that we could no longer communicate with the volunteer coordinator and would need to contact Sgt. Maxon directly. Despite repeated attempts — six in total — the sergeant finally responded, only to declare that the agreements previously made would no longer stand.

Sgt. Maxon imposed a new requirement: board members from each nonprofit would now need to be physically present to collect toys. When asked why this change was implemented just days after our initial agreement, we were told that he was “not at liberty to discuss the matter, this is his campaign and he makes the final decisions” In subsequent attempts to clarify these changes, Sgt. Maxon hung up on us.

Our persistent efforts to advocate for the kids of Denver have been met with racism, disrespect, and systemic barriers. Thousands of kids now face the prospect of a holiday season without the joy we have delivered for the past three years. We are deeply disgusted by the actions of the Marines and their staff in Denver. Their treatment of our organization and our partners has been discriminatory, dehumanizing, and reprehensible. Yet, while we are outraged, we are not surprised.

Despite these challenges, we will fulfill our promise to Denver kids. We have already secured 5,000 toys (only 800 of them come from Toys for Tots) and are committed to filling the gap to reach our goal of 10,000 toys. No child who signed up with the Black Santa Project will go without, and we will connect any remaining families to other opportunities within our community. — Let me be clear, we need your help to make up difference.

We will not stand silently in the face of this injustice. We are calling on all Black-serving organizations and nonprofits in Greater Metro Denver to join us in taking the following actions:

• Demand the immediate release of the remaining 2,200 toys approved for our partner organizations, honoring the original agreements, without additional stipulations that were not previously agreed to.
• Demand a public apology from Toys for Tots and the Marines for their use of racial slurs, disrespectful behavior, and systemic discrimination.
• Boycott Toys for Tots until systemic changes are made, including the removal of the current leadership and volunteer staff responsible for the campaign in Denver.

Our ancestors endured far too much for us to be reduced to hateful language or to accept less than our full humanity. Let this moment serve as a catalyst. We will fulfill our promise to the children of Denver this year, and moving forward, we will build a self-sustaining model that ensures we never have to rely on organizations that dehumanize and disrespect us.

As we approach our annual event in just three weeks, we have little expectation of accountability from Toys for Tots. Now, more than ever, we need the support of our community. You can help us close the gap and ensure that Denver kids receive the joy they deserve by finding one of our local drop boxes, shopping from our Amazon cart, or making a tax-deductible donation through December 21st.

Here is the link to find all of the ways to support us: https://linktr.ee/theblacksantaproject

While the Marines at Toys for Tots may have called me a “n***er,” our kids call me Black Santa — and Black Santa will never stop fighting for them.

In Power and Solidarity,

Auon’tai M. Anderson, Founder | The Black Santa Project