Sharon Weston Broome Becomes Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s First Black Woman Mayor.

Sharon Weston Broome

With a major shift in U.S. national politics, many are looking toward local elections as a way to bring balance and further equality. Over the past few months, local elections all over the country have seen barrier breaking outcomes. Most recently, former senator Sharon Weston Broome became the first black woman mayor of East Baton Rouge Parish in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In her acceptance speech, Weston spoke of the significance of her win.

“Tonight Baton Rouge made a statement, a statement that we are a city of inclusion,” she said. “That we are a place of hope and optimism. A place where little boys and little girls of all walks of life know that they can grow up and lead a city no matter what their color or gender.”

Weston also acknowledged that she has a long, road ahead of her. Residents of Baton Rouge have struggled with economic hardship at many levels and the city is plagued by segregation, particularly within its school system. This past August, Baton Rouge also weathered severe flooding, result in deaths and leaving many residents homeless.

“We will work for the next four years to make our city an example of how to heal and progress past the hurt that we have seen,” said Weston.


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