Ireland elects first black mayor

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6251094.stm

A Nigerian man who arrived in Ireland as an asylum seeker seven years ago has become the country's first black mayor.

Rotimi Adebari has been elected as first citizen of Portlaoise in County Laois.

The 43-year-old fled from Nigeria in 2000 because of religious persecution. After a few weeks, he and his family settled in the County Laois town.

In 2004, he was elected in the local elections as an independent councillor and on Thursday he became mayor.

The move was the result of a voting pact between Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and independent councillors.

The father-of-four has completed a masters degree in intercultural studies at Dublin City University and now works for Laois County Council, co-ordinating an integration project for local immigrants.

Mr Adebari said it was a great honour to become Portlaoise's first citizen, but that praise should be given to the people who elected him three years ago.

"Ireland is really changing. The immigrant community in the town has been growing, especially since the accession countries joined the European Union on enlargement in 2004," he said.

However, he added: "That is not to say that I did not have my own share of the prejudice that would be out there against maybe Nigerians, or immigrants or asylum seekers."

"But I don't let the attitude of a very small minority over-shadow the fact that the people are wonderful."

Great!  I really appreciate what he said "I don't let the attitude of a very small minority over-shadow the fact that the people are wonderful."

I am hoping Chinese government adopt a reasonable immigration policy to attract diverse population and enrich its culture.  For many reasons, I believe, the Chinese government and many Chinese people including me,  would love to see a black mayor in China some day.

I also hope China would become what it was in the Tang Dynasty, officials and generals  in the royal court came from all over the world and they had to speak more than 5 languages. Many things people regard as "Chinese" today are in fact not originated from China but were the aresult of the open minded attitude in Tang Dynasty to accept foreign culture.

I also hope China would become what it was in the Tang Dynasty, officials and generals  in the royal court came from all over the world and they had to speak more than 5 languages. Many things people regard as "Chinese" today are in fact not originated from China but were the aresult of the open minded attitude in Tang Dynasty to accept foreign culture.

Tell them....Well, it's a good news though. The coming Us presidential Election has two important stakes at hand..first...either to have the first black President .Second, to have the first female president. Either of which, is a great revolution...what do u say to that , ya'll?

Giving the black population in US, US should have a black president long time ago. A woman being the head of state is no news in Europe even in some developing countries. I do not know why the US still think it as some kind of break through.

Good point Baers...i once heard a white American guy say that there can never be a black President in the Us...oh, well,if democacy was really true n that county, thee should have been one...Peace

If education is really equal to its people black and white, US should have much more black middle class and more black people should have take up the senior government posts. Now I heard education is more and more  exclusively available to the children in richer familes, who are mostly white. All countries should learn from France, all levels of education should be free.