15 Black Christmas Songs You Need to Know

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‘Tis the season for hot chocolate and stocking stuffing! To celebrate everyone’s favorite family holiday, The Root has gathered some of the many iconic Black Christmas songs to make your Christmas day extra special.

From hits dating back as far as the 1950s all the way to now, Black folks sure do know how to put our own twist on the holiday classics. Take a look and listen to just a few of the best Christmas songs perfect for every year!

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Let it Snow- Boyz II Men ft. Brain McKnight

Boyz II Men - Let It Snow ft. Brian McKnight

This 1993 classic is the perfect song to play while cozying up near a warm fire.

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Give Love On Christmas Day - Jackson 5

Jackson 5 - Give Love On Christmas Day (Official Visualizer)

For the record, the Jackson 5 has one of the best Christmas albums of all time, but if we had to pick just one song to represent, it has to be this one!

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Santa Baby- Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (Official Audio)

The legendary Eartha Kitt doesn’t get enough credit for giving the people this classic Christmas bop!

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Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto- James Brown

Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto James Brown

This Christmas classic made all the Black kids feel seen and heard!

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All I Want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You (Official Video)

Is it even really Christmas is you haven’t heard this song play at least 30 times?

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Someday at Christmas- Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder-Someday At Christmas

This song just screams nostalgia.

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The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)- Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)

No matter your age, this is one of those songs you just can’t help but to sing along.

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This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (Official Audio)

Regardless if you prefer the original or the Chris Brown version, we all know “This Christmas” is one of the greatest Christmas songs ever!

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Silent Night- The Temptations

Silent Night by The Temptations (Lyrics)

What’s Christmas without this one?!

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Christmas In Hollis- RUN DMC

RUN DMC - Christmas In Hollis (Official HD Video)

We can all thank that one scene in “Die Hard” for making this song a Christmas classic!

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Any Luther Vandross rendition is arguably the best version!

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What You Want For Christmas- The 69 Boyz

Quad City DJ’s - What you want for Christmas

If you grew up in the South, then you know you couldn’t turn on the radio during holiday season without hearing “12 Ghetto Days of Christmas.”

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Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without The One You Love)- Aretha Franklin

Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without The One You Love)

“Can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I get a witness??”

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Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- Darlene Love

Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Official Audio)

Some Christmas songs are just meant to be played all year long.

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Jesus Is The Reason For The Season- Kirk Franklin

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

This classic Kirk Franklin song is a great throwback Christmas jam!

Don't Mess Around and Get Your Black Card Revoked Because You Don't Know These 15 Christmas Songs...by Heart

Don't Mess Around and Get Your Black Card Revoked Because You Don't Know These 15 Christmas Songs...by Heart

If you need a Black Christmas day playlist, you came to the right place!

Let it Snow- Boyz II Men ft. Brain McKnight

Let it Snow- Boyz II Men ft. Brain McKnight

Give Love On Christmas Day - Jackson 5

Give Love On Christmas Day - Jackson 5

Santa Baby- Eartha Kitt

Santa Baby- Eartha Kitt

Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto- James Brown

Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto- James Brown

All I Want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey

All I Want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey

Someday at Christmas- Stevie Wonder

Someday at Christmas- Stevie Wonder

The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)- Nat King Cole

The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)- Nat King Cole

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

Silent Night- The Temptations

Silent Night- The Temptations

Christmas In Hollis- RUN DMC

Christmas In Hollis- RUN DMC

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Luther Vandross

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Luther Vandross

What You Want For Christmas- The 69 Boyz

What You Want For Christmas- The 69 Boyz

Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without The One You Love)- Aretha Franklin

Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without The One You Love)- Aretha Franklin

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- Darlene Love

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- Darlene Love

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season- Kirk Franklin

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season- Kirk Franklin