On July 20, 1999, Marie St. Fleur, a national of Haiti, took the official oath before Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift as a state representative and so becomes the first Haitian American to hold an elected office in the Commonwealth.

Ironically, up until her electoral campaign, Marie St. Fleur was, in fact, unknown in the district that she represents, although she is no stranger to Boston's political system. She worked closely with former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger as a special aid; however, she did not use her advantage to help resolve the numerous problems that are affecting the community.

After all, Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston, former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and State Senator Dianne Wilkerson are the ones who earned the credit for her victory. State Representative St. Fleur admitted it herself that she won the special election thanks to a last intervention of the popular Mayor of Boston who 'pushed her opponents to the edge' to repeat her own words during her inaugural speech.

Marie St. Fleur is a Black person, but most of her support was concentrated within the white community, this should not be a problem, because the dynamics of diversity within the political and social organizations is to be encouraged. Meanwhile, good leadership starts in your own community. Her connection with the white establishment causes a great deal of doubt among her constituents, diversity does not mean turning your back on your people and giving up your responsibility as member of a specific community.

Marie St. Fleur has been sworn in, but the controversy relative to her ties with the 'downtown political establishment' remains a very debatable topic. The big shots that led St. Fleur to this "victory" were all present in the house chamber to witness the swearing in of their "plum". If they failed to force the community to swallow Caleb Desrosiers in the general election last November; this time they have managed to succeed with Marie St. Fleur so inch by inch the majority is taking over the political control of the black community.

Mayor Thomas Menino, one of the most popular politicians who threw his power behind St. Fleur's candidacy was the first guest to enter into the house chamber that morning for this special event, followed by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney, Boston City Councilor Mickey Roache and many other dignitaries and elected officials including Mgr. Francis Roache, the chaplain of the Boston Police, the entire dream team was there. Of course, Thomas Finneran, the speaker of the house, presided over the ceremony as always.

Fake smiles were noticeable on everyone's face, the most likely to be a truly happy face was Tom Menino's, who has recently made a tremendous improvement in his smile. He seems to be able to control his facial expression even around people whom he does not like very much.

St. Fleur's strategy worked to a certain extent, she has been successful on a personal basis. Most of her fellows are dreaming to have a position like this, as well as the acquaintance of these powerful smart guys like Scott Harshbarger, Mayor Tom Menino and House Speaker Tom Finneran.

During the campaign, some of her opponents happened to lie about their privileged connection with those leaders. Barry Lawton attacked State Senator Dianne Wilkerson because she refused to kneel at the foot of the Mayor, ironically, Wilkerson and Menino joined forces to kick Lawton out of business. And now the two elected officials are working together on various projects.

The concerned citizens will continue to question the role that Marie St. Fleur will be able to play in Boston's African-American politics until she proves that she is not a token that the establishment can use for a free ride. I deeply feel that a trusted leadership should rely primarily on our community-based organizations. I am left with the sad impression that Marie St. Fleur is a product of the dominated class. She doesn't seem to be fully aware of the pain and suffering of the innocent Black and Spanish men and women who have served or who are serving jail time because of our biased justice system.

She did not seem to be aware of the lack of or no opportunity for our educated black men and women in the private as well as in the public sectors. Or has she chosen to remain silent to secure her position in the political arena.. St. Fleur sounds like a smart woman, but her African brain may have been bleach out by her white masters. She has enough time to prove that she is not the demagogue that we suspect she is. Be advised, my State Representative, the community is watching your step.

phrase that her mother told her very often as a reminder "Kote ou prale pi loin ke kote ou soti," meaning that where you are going is much further than where you came from. What her mother perhaps did not tell her, when a Black person is soaring on the back of the eagle, he or she can fly higher and faster but they cannot tell when she is going to let them fall down. But if you follow the steps of the turtle, it may take longer but surely you will reach your goal and with dignity.

A Haitian freelance reporter who worked very closely in St. Fleur's campaign chatted about her future plan to run for Senator Wilkersons' seat in 2000. This is not news for anyone, St. Fleur is the typical candidate to confront Senator Wilkerson: African-American, very articulate with a law degree, big eyes and nice smile, and particularly she is more obedient than Dianne Wilkerson. But should this rumor become true, she has to be prepared. The possibility that St. Fleur will run for State Senate has become a very popular topic in the Haitian barber shops and restaurants. This news troubles Caleb Desrosiers' followers who are trying to build a multi-cultural based political organization aimed at defeating State Senator Dianne Wilkerson in the next state congressional election. St. Fleur's victory brings hope to Desrosiers' small clan. We expect to see a negative change in black voter's behavior in the next electoral campaign as a result of St. Fleur's phenomenon, many community activists may sit back to see where the establishment will point their Downtown Political Machine.

For St. Fleur's friends and supporters who packed the gallery of the house chamber that afternoon, the most important thing is the final result. Marie St. Fleur is their new State Representative, and especially for a few Haitian fellows, they can tell their neighbors about their pride of having one of their own in the State House.

I wish that I could share that moment of pride and joy with my fellow citizens. But I can't, because I've read too many books, I've heard too many people and I have experienced so much in this society. I have become aware of why so many people were murdered during the Civil Rights Movement, I understand the laws of this country and I know why they were written. I am trying to find out why the condition of the black man is getting worse after more than 40 years after the Civil Right Movement. I truly believe in the importance of the House of Representatives mission for the people of the Commonwealth, and I'd like to see the people of this community fairly represented.

I love State Representative Marie St. Fleur as much that I love State Representative Gloria Fox and State Senator Dianne Wilkerson. They are all Black elected officials but Mrs. Fox and Wilkerson associate themselves with the under- served population and this is very important to me.

An eighty-three-year-old Roxbury woman treasures a thank you letter that she received from Wilkerson's campaign for a $5 donation that she gave as her campaign contribution. She feels like she contributed to her legacy. Have you had the chance to see the pride on the faces of those black fellows with their black glasses standing in grove hall with their leader Dianne Wilkerson? Our community has impressed Downtown, now we feel more comfortable to work together with the white folks with mutual respect and we appreciate their willingness for co-operation. Gloria Fox and Dianne Wilkerson are present at all community meetings, whether it is the wake for a young person who has fallen victim to a violent crime, to plan a community development project, to fight for civil rights, or to celebrate a special event. This is the kind of relationship between constituents and their leaders that is very necessary.

St. Fleur's enormous connection with the big shots may benefit the community somehow. There is always a common ground between the diverse communities composing the nation but their problems and their perspectives are different. The political relationship between leaders from different ethnic backgrounds should be based solely on a political consensus that is essential to the welfare of the communities that they represent or in the national interest of this wonderful country. But the interpersonal relationship between the white and the minority leaders may be perceived as a master/slave relationship if the leader involved in this relationship does not have a popular support. Such is the case of State Representative Marie St. Fleur who took profit of a ride in the backs of Harshbarger and Menino to win the election without the support of the community based organizations.

Actually the political future of Marie St. Fleur depends on the political establishment. Her bosses will monitor every action she makes in the chamber and to survive she must please them. It is expected to see her, in the obligation, to lag her community behind in order to protect her political viability. We don't know the motive behind St Fleur's legacy, but we know for sure that the white leaders are more likely to deal with Black leaders who will submit to their rules. Each time a black leader refuses to bend his back, he is automatically labeled as a rebel. Marie has the choice between using a short cut in a shameful manner to achieve personal success or she may choose to crawl with her community to manage poverty with dignity.

We all agree that many white leaders  have made positive contributions to our community. Mayor Thomas Menino is one of them, he is a good friend for our community, but as a middle-class Italian American Menino has a different perspective than the average African-American. The Mayor is well aware of that, but he created the Office of New Bostonians and appointed many community liaisons who are helping him to establish a permanent contact with the community. We make recommendation to the Mayor about the needs in our community. What makes this Mayor different is the respect and administration that he has demonstrated to community-based organizations and his politics of inclusion.

In conclusion, Marie St. Fleur needs to understand that her connections will not always be enough, she needs to establish roots in her community.

I wish you good luck Mrs. State Representative. May God bless you. ¨