An article on The Root highlights the career of Alain Dolium, a Black French politician and candidate for France’s National Assembly in 2012.
Not surprisingly, some pundits and media have referred to Dolium as the “French Obama.” He rejects the label as a trap, an attempt to reduce his candidacy to his color, rather than addressing his political positions. Dolium says that the French political elite are not ready for diversity — although he believes that ordinary French citizens will vote for a black candidate.
There is currently just one Black elected official in France’s National Assembly, and no nonwhite mayors or other local elected officials.
“We have a giant hypocrisy,” says Dolium. “People who bring up race issues are seen as anti-republic.”
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