Following Obama, black Iraqis run for office

[Clio the Leo]

This story is a couple of days old, but I'm posting it to balance out the shoe throwing ickyness.

Following Obama, black Iraqis run for office
Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:36am IST

By Mohammed Abbas

BASRA (Reuters) - Barack Obama's election in the United States has already had an impact in Iraq, inspiring some black Iraqis to run in a forthcoming election in the hope of ending what they call centuries of discrimination.

"Obama's win gave us moral strength," said Jalal Chijeel, secretary of the Free Iraqi Movement.

He said the group would be the first to field black candidates in any Iraqi poll when it joins provincial elections scheduled for Jan. 31.

President-elect Obama's ascendancy in the United States has coincided with increased public support for their cause: "When he became a candidate, so did we," Chijeel told Reuters.

He argues Iraqis of African origin are not represented in top office, suffer disproportionately from poverty and illiteracy and are commonly referred to in derisive terms.

Other Iraqis see no discrimination against Iraqis of African-origin, whose number is unclear given a lack of statistics. Chijeel said there were some 300,000 in the southern city of Basra alone.

This January's provincial election will be the first to be organised by Iraq and held under Iraqi laws since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 overthrew Saddam Hussein, and will be followed by national elections later in 2009.

As such it could be a crucial step to reconciling the country's sectarian and ethnic groups after years of bloodshed. Continued...

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-36950220081210

[AspenRose]

1. I hope it starts a global trend

Too many folks (in this country especially) are woefully ignorant about the African Diaspora.

(Exhibit A: George Bush not knowing there were blacks in Brazil. :dunce: )

I actually knew a girl in college who thought all blacks sounded alike. She thought a black guy from England was "faking" his accent. :eyes:

[Number23]

2. I'll never forget the black Iraqi I met when I was there

He took one look at me and got sooo excited. He said "you black like me!" :)

He probably had the idea that all Americans were blue-eyed blondes much like many Americans probably think there is a "standard" Middle Eastern look. He was blown away when he saw me. And every time he saw me afterwards, his face would light up like Christmas but I'm used to that look from men. ;-)

Now I'm wondering how he is and if he's okay. Nice thread.