KRISTINA NARIZHNAYA People in this Russian town used to
stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him something equally rare -- an honest politician.
Sagbo last month became the first black to be elected to office in Russia.
In a country where racism is entrenched and often violent, Sagbo's election as one of Novozavidovo's 10 municipal councilors is a milestone. But among the town's 10,000 people, the 48-year-old from the West African country of Benin is viewed simply a Russian who cares about his hometown.
He promises to revive the impoverished, garbage-strewn town where he has lived for 21 years
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Posted By: Steven Muhammad
Sunday, July 25th 2010 at 4:14PM
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