Kim Janey, first Black-female acting mayor of Boston, seeks full term

The city of Boston, Massachusetts, for the first time in history, has got its first Black woman as mayor, Kim Janey, after a series of White men have been filling the position. Earlier this week, Janey announced she will contest for a full term for the mayor’s position in a pool of diverse candidates.

US President Joe Biden relieved Marty Walsh from his position as the mayor of Boston to take up the role of US Secretary of Labor. Walsh’s departure from his position made room for the new acting mayor, Janey. 

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The 56-year-old has seen an upward graph in her political career after being elected to the city council in 2017 and moved on to take over the position of President of City Council, Boston.

In an interview with CNN, Janey said, “To think that we would have a Black mayor in my lifetime, even though we’ve had a Black president, still kind of felt out of reach. You know, and then there’s the added responsibility and burden of being the first, you know, first woman, first Black mayor for our city. And I don’t take that responsibility lightly,” as she shed light on the racial disparities present in the United States in terms of opportunities. 

In a change of events for the city of Boston, the next term election for the leading rank of the mayor, all candidates are reportedly people of colour or women, which is an unusual sight in the city’s election history. Moreover, Janey announced that she intends to take charge of her ambitions and will contest the elections for a full term.

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The 56-year-old, in a statement, explained her beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic being an opportunity for growth in the United States in terms of boosting inclusivity and tolerance. She said, “We have to come out of this pandemic stronger than before.”