by Anura Guruge
on October 24, 2022
Obama was the 1st non-white President of the U.S.
Rishi Sunak (b. 1980) will be the 1st non-white Prime Minister of (MY) United Kingdom (U.K.).
Obama was elected (& reelected) by THE PEOPLE (albeit through the Electoral College (though he did win the Popular Vote (both times)) in a general election.
Rishi Sunak was NOT elected by THE PEOPLE of the U.K.!
THE PEOPLE elected the Party, i.e., the Conservatives, when it was being led by a dashing, white man, i.e., (dear) Boris Johnson.
Rishi Sunak was elected Prime Minister by his Party, his fellow Members of Parliament (MPs). That is how it works in the U.K.
The people had NO DIRECT say in the election of THIS Prime Minister.
I had BIG hopes for the U.S. when Obama was elected (which is why I campaigned for him thrice, like a black). Well my hopes were dashed within 4 months of him entering the White House.
The U.K., that to hour long heritage with an Empire that spanned the globe & our GLORIOUS COMMONWEALTH is more multi-cultural & racially integrated, as of now, than the U.S. Different dynamics. We didn’t have a slave issue to contend with per se.
But, we will all be STUPID to think that race does not play a part in U.K. life, U.K. society.
I lived through the 1970s ‘Paki-bashing’ & was fortunate to emerge unscathe.
I, however, & ALAS, left the U.K. in 1983 (ostensibly to return after 2-years). During the 17-years I lived in the U.K. I did NOT experience any blatant, over racism. But, I was lucky.
Italy, just down the road, just elected an ultra right-wing government. France is seeing rampant nationalism. Immigration is an issue across the European continent.
There is NO QUESTION, whatsoever, that Rishi Sunak, who was born in Southampton is 100% British. There can be no questions as to his birth certificate.
But, I have a nagging feeling that him becoming P.M. will NOT sit well with some in the country. I hope I am wrong.
