BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The nation's largest mall is hosting its first-ever black Santa Claus this weekend.
The Star-Tribune reports the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis hired Larry Jefferson to play Kris Kringle from Thursday to Sunday as part of its Santa Experience.
Multiple news outlets have mentioned Jefferson's association with the military. USA Today reported that he is a retired Army veteran from Texas.
Santa Experience co-owner Landon Luther said they "want Santa to be for everyone, period." With that in mind, he told the Tribune that he launched a nationwide search for a diverse Santa and found Jefferson at a Santa convention in Branson, Missouri, over the summer. He was the only black Santa among the 1,000 impersonators in attendance.
Jefferson told WCCO-TV that playing the jolly old elf is "no big deal" to him, saying: "I'm still Santa, I just happen to be a Santa of color."
Jefferson will return home to play Santa in the Dallas-area after Sunday.
Digital editor Chris Martin contributed to this report.
