(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Is Mall of America's Black Santa now all of America's Santa?
Story about MOA's first African-American Kris Kringle has caught fire across the nation.
December 13, 2016 at 9:09PM
Larry Jefferson/Star Tribune photo by Leila Navidi
Larry Jefferson's gig as a Mall of America Santa only lasted four days, but the buzz continues to echo across the country.
Stories on WCCO-TV and in the Star Tribune earlier this month about the first African-American man to portray Kris Kringle in MOA's 24-year-old history got plenty of play beyond the state. NBC's "Today," "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah," Huffington Post and Cosmopolitan magazine have all followed up.
This past Saturday, "Saturday Night Live" mentioned the story, although it focused on the less-than-jolly naysayers who believe Kris Kringle should be white. MOA bit starts at 8:46.
"Black Santa" makes a pre-taped Skype appearance on Tuesday's edition of "The Steve Harvey Show." The talk show doesn't air locally until 3 a.m. Wednesday on KARE, Ch. 11, but you can get a sneak peek here:
Lefse-wrapped Swedish wontons, a soothing bowl of rice porridge and a gravy-laden commercial filled our week with comfort and warmth.
