Russia elects 1st black politician to office Small town in country with rampant racism newly optimistic
Kristina Narizhnaya / Associated Press Novozavidovo, Russia -- People in this Russian town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him something equally rare -- an honest politician. Sagbo last month became the first black to be elected to office in Russia. In a country where racism is entrenched and often violent, Sagbo's election as one of Novozavidovo's 10 municipal councilors is a milestone. But among the town's 10,000 people, the 48-year-old from the West African country of Benin is viewed simply a Russian who cares about his hometown. Advertisement He promises to revive the impoverished garbage-strewn town where he has lived for 21 years and raised a family. His plans include reducing rampant drug addiction, cleaning up a polluted lake and delivering heating to homes. "Novozavidovo is dying," Sagbo said in an interview in the ramshackle municipal building. "This is my home, my town. We can't live like this." "His skin is black but he is Russian inside," said Vyacheslav Arakelov, the mayor. "The way he cares about this place, only a Russian can care." Sagbo isn't the first black in Russian politics. Another West African, Joaquin Crima of Guinea-Bissau, ran for head of a southern Russian district a year ago but was heavily defeated. Crima was dubbed by the media "Russia's Obama." Now they've shifted the title to Sagbo, much to his annoyance. "My name is not Obama. It's sensationalism," he said. "He is black and I am black, but it's a totally different situation." Inspired by communist ideology, Sagbo came to Soviet Russia in 1982 to study economics in Moscow. There he met his wife, a Novozavidovo native. He moved to the town about 65 miles north of Moscow in 1989 to be close to his in-laws. Today he is a father of two and negotiates real estate sales for a Moscow conglomerate. His council job is unpaid. Sagbo says neither he nor his wife wanted him to get into politics, viewing it as a dirty, dangerous business, but the town council and residents persuaded him to run for office. They already knew him as a man of strong civic impulse. He had cleaned the entrance to his apartment building, planted flowers and spent his own money on street improvements. Ten years ago he organized volunteers and started what became an annual day of collecting garbage. He said he feels no racism in the town. "I am one of them. I am home here," Sagbo said. Russia's black population hasn't been officially counted but some studies estimate about 40,000 "Afro-Russians." After the Soviet Union collapsed, Novozavidovo's industries were rapidly privatized, leaving it in financial ruin. High unemployment, corruption, alcoholism and pollution blight what was once an idyllic town. Denis Voronin, a 33-year-old engineer in Novozavidovo, said Sagbo was the town's first politician to get elected fairly, without resorting to buying votes. As a councilor, Sagbo has already scored some successes. He mobilized residents to collect money and turn dilapidated lots into colorful playgrounds with new swings and painted fences. As he strolled his neighborhood, everyone greeted him and he responded in his fluent, French-African-accented Russian. Boys waved to Sagbo, who had promised them a soccer field. Sitting in the newly painted playground with her son, Irina Danilenko said it was the only improvement she has seen in the five years she has lived here. "We don't care about his race," said Danilenko, 31. "We consider him one of us." >From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100726/NATION/7260342/1020/Russia-elects-1st-black-politician-to-office#ixzz0un6aHc8x _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
