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Douglasville, Georgia residents were thrilled to see a change in the political makeup of their small, rural city last week when Rochelle Robinson was elected mayor, making her both the first female and the first Black politician to hold the seat, The Huffington Post reports.

Robinson won the election against Mayor Harvey Persons, 62 percent to 38 percent. The 20-year resident of the area served on the town’s city council from 2002 to 2006. Robinson’s win comes during a time of change for the town, whose racial presence has shifted over the years.

White people served as the majority of the population by 64 percent in the 2000 Census. Ten years later, Douglasville’s population was Black by 56 percent, while 36 percent were White.

Robinson’s win isn’t the only first in the city. In September, the city named Gary Sparks as the police chief. Sparks is the first African-American to hold the title. Marcia Hampton also became the first-ever black (or female) city manager of the town in December, The Huffington Post reports.

Robinson took to Twitter to thank her supporters. During her speech to the public on Dec. 1, she cited Rosa Parks as one of many civil rights leaders who paved the way for her historical moment.

The Huffington Post reports:

“I was just overwhelmed and that was the first thing that came to my memory: Rosa Parks sat down 60 years ago today, so that I could stand up in this city,” Robinson said. “I’m standing on so many shoulders. I did not get here by myself.” 

“We were very aware of what was going on in our community,” Robinson said of her mother’s influence. “She had me marching on the Board of Education when I was in the third grade for equality and books. So I believe my mom planted the seed for me being in service, being aware and connected to the community.”

Robinson is a mother of three and an ordained minister. She is also a veteran of the National Guard and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

SOURCE: The Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter 

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