Mall of America Features Its First Black Santa

(Bloomington, MN) — The Mall of America is celebrating the holiday season with its first black Santa.

Veteran actor Larry Jefferson is posing for pictures and videos with children through the weekend at the Santa Experience at the mega mall in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Santa Larry, who hails from Dallas, says his four-day gig is “no big deal” for most kids.

He adds that he just happens to be a Santa of color.

Santa Experience co-owner Landon Luther told the “Star Tribune” he launched a national search last spring to find a diverse St. Nicholas and it was “like finding a needle in a haystack.”