Mall of America hires first black Santa
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Friday, December 02, 2016 10:12 AM EST | Updated: Friday, December 02, 2016 01:23 PM EST
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The nation’s largest mall is hosting its first-ever black Santa Claus this 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.
Santa Experience co-owner Landon Luther says they “want Santa to be for everyone, period.” With that in mind, he tells the newspaper 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 tells 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 colour.”
Jefferson will return home to play Santa in the Dallas-area after Sunday.
Larry Jefferson will be playing Kris Kringle as part of the Santa Experience at the Mall of America. Jefferson will be the mall's first black Santa. (Screen Capture)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVNmPMEcTs
Mall of America hires first black Santa | World | News | Toronto Sun
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Friday, December 02, 2016 10:12 AM EST | Updated: Friday, December 02, 2016 01:23 PM EST
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The nation’s largest mall is hosting its first-ever black Santa Claus this 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.
Santa Experience co-owner Landon Luther says they “want Santa to be for everyone, period.” With that in mind, he tells the newspaper 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 tells 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 colour.”
Jefferson will return home to play Santa in the Dallas-area after Sunday.
Larry Jefferson will be playing Kris Kringle as part of the Santa Experience at the Mall of America. Jefferson will be the mall's first black Santa. (Screen Capture)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVNmPMEcTs
Mall of America hires first black Santa | World | News | Toronto Sun