The countdown to Christmas is on and with that Santa Claus has come to a Minnesota town reported the Minnesota Star Tribune. The famous Mall of America has hired a black Santa Claus (not named Kevin Hart) for the first time in the mall’s 24 year history.
Located in Bloomington, the Mall of America, the largest mall in the U.S., has called on Larry Jefferson to be its Santa this year. Jefferson was discovered at a July Santa convention in Branson, Missouri., where among 1,000 impersonators Jefferson was the only black Santa.
“We want Santa to be for everyone, period,” said Landon Luther, a co-owner of the Santa Experience which has been 10 years running at the mall. Luther, who set out to find a diverse Santa starting last spring, also said, “It was like finding a needle in a haystack.” According to Luther, Jefferson says he’s a Santa “for all.”
Jefferson is a retired U.S. Army veteran from Irving, Texas who’s been playing Santa Claus since 1999. Jefferson first donned the jolly big guy’s suit as a 12-year-old when his father hurt his back and he had to step in to play Santa to his siblings. Jefferson made his debut at the Mall of America on Thursday and is booked to stay through Sunday.
“What they see most of the time is this red suit and candy,” Jefferson said. “[Santa represents] a good spirit. I’m just a messenger to bring hope, love and peace to girls and boys.”
