ahar...@earthlink.net Thanks for that! Glad to know this. Amy
Russia Elects First Black Politician Posted by admin on July 26, 2010 0 Comment For the first time in their history, Russia has elected a black man to hold political office. Jean Gregoire Sagbo was elected as a councilman in Novozavidovo. Sagbo, who was born in Africa, has lived in Novozavidovo for 21 years and raised his family there. Russia has a history of extreme racial violence, making this election a significant milestone. Sagbo made many key promises for the impoverished town, saying he wants to curb drug addiction, put heating in homes, and clean up pollution. Vyacheslav Arakelov, the mayor of Novozavidovo, says that Sagbo is Russian inside and that he cares deeply for his hometown. Sagbo will be one of ten councilmen for the city. Sagbo came to Russia in 1982 to study economics when the country was still under Soviet rule. His wife is from Novozavidovo originally, and they raised their two children there. Sagbo works as a real estate negotiator, and his council position will be unpaid. After initially having no desire to pursue politics, he was persuaded to run by residents of the town. While Russia has a checkered racial history, Sagbo says he hasn’t felt any racism. Once a prosperous town, Novozavidovo suffered after the fall of Communism. Sagbo hopes to do his part to rebuild the town. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
