Why is the story about our new leader about his skin colour?

[jon1959]

There is a we, a collective social we, and in recent years there has been a push for people to define themselves by their race or skin colour, attributes they dont control and don't matter.

Seems you are one of those people. I suspect it wont end well.

The story is we have a new leader in Wales. Not his skin colour. That's part of his story of course it is, but its not THE story, yet sadly to many people it is.

Talk about not getting it.

Of course few people get to achieve that position! It's head of the frigging country! No one gets to that position easily. But it is who got the position thats important.

And as if to prove how divisive people like you can be, there you go making a series of negative stereotypes about people based on race. Your position seriously needs challenging more as you won't take us to a good place, your position is taking us back decades in race relations, retreating people into tribes instead of one society which we should aim for

If anyone 'doesn't get it', or doesn't want to get it, it is you James. You will be bleating 'white lives matter' next!

If racism didn't exist there may be more value to your comments - but racism does still exist in our society. The 'negative stereotypes' are out there causing damage. When it comes to health outcomes, employment and earnings, treatment by the criminal justice system, direct prejudice and exposure to abuse and attack, racism is still alive and kicking in the UK. It is not the same as one two or three generations ago but it is still there.

While ever that is the case the achievements of people from communities without structural privilege need to be celebrated (however flawed they are as individuals) - to break the glass ceiling and stereotypes and to inspire the next generation. It isn't enough. Margaret Thatcher didn't transform the prospects of women (in some ways she made it worse), Rishi Sunak hasn't swept away racism in society (in some ways for some communities he is making it worse) but the symbolism of their roles and status makes us all think a little differently about the world. They help bring about a new normal.