Boston’s Democratic mayor, Michelle Wu, extended an invitation to the entire Boston City Council for a Christmas gathering exclusively intended for “Electeds of Color.” This move has sparked criticism directed towards her.
Shortly after the invitation was dispatched, Denise DosSantos, the mayor’s aide and director of City Council relations, promptly issued an email expressing regret for its distribution to all City Council members. In her message, she apologized for any possible offense or confusion that may have arisen.
Among the 13 members of the Boston City Council, seven are white, and six are racial minorities. This initiative has caused a division among council members and stirred discussions on social media. Michelle Wu, the first Asian-American mayor of Boston, justified her decision to organize a party exclusive to non-white council members by highlighting the longstanding tradition of the “elected officials of color” group, which has been gathering for over a decade.
Frank Baker, a white Democrat on the City Council, expressed that he wasn’t personally offended by the invitation exclusion. However, he characterized the move as “unfortunate and divisive,” emphasizing that the holiday season is a time for unity, regardless of differences. He acknowledged his inability to influence the situation and mentioned that if he’s not invited to a party, he won’t be in attendance.
In contrast, Brian Worrell, a black Democrat City Council member, downplayed the controversy, stating that the party was not unusual. According to him, the local Boston government routinely accommodates various specific groups, and this event is in line with that practice.
Ruthzee Louijeune, a black member of the City Council who received an invitation to the Electeds of Color party, asserted that hosting a party where half of the elected body members are not invited based on their skin color is “not at all divisive” in her perspective.
Ruthzee Louijeune emphasized the importance of establishing a space for those who are still “breaking barriers.” Similarly, Ricardo Arroyo, another invited member of the Electeds of Color party, dismissed the controversy, describing it as “much ado about nothing” According to him, there is no evident division or friction resulting from such an event.
