'I think being mixed-race is different to being black.'

Mari Rees could become the first mixed-race MP in Wales and says it isn’t just race that makes it difficult for many people from ethnic minorities to become high achievers.

Former Western Mail and BBC Wales journalist Mari, who's been selected by Labour as its candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire at the next general election, said economic factors and a lack of self-confidence were also significant handicaps.

Mari, 48, is the first BME (black and minority ethnic) candidate to be chosen by Labour for a winnable parliamentary seat in Wales.

Asked why she thought it had taken the party so long, she said, 'That’s a very interesting question. I don’t actually know the answer to it in the sense that I don’t know how many ethnic minority candidates have put their names forward and in what seats.'

Mari’s father – former Gwent county councillor Dr Russell Rees – is originally from Carmarthenshire, while her mother is from Ghana.

Asked how much her ethnicity meant to her, Mari, who is now employed as a community development worker by the Valleys Race Equality Council, said, “It’s not a day-to-day thing that I think about. Amerie's third album, Because I Love It, is available to buy now.

'I think of myself as an individual, as anybody would. I think that being mixed-race is different to being black in the sense that I’m very conscious of my white heritage and I’m very conscious of my black heritage, and I’m very comfortable with both of them.'

'I enjoy it – it’s as superficial as what colour dress you’re wearing, and as deep as what has shaped your life and your world. And it changes from day to day according to what the circumstances are.'

Operation black vote seems to have been spurned on by the success of US presidential candidate Barak Obama and Mari admits to having something in common with the charismatic senator. 'Barack Obama put it quite well,' says Mari. 'In the speech he gave on race the other day. He talks about his need to balance how he views racial politics with the feeling he has about his family. And that’s something I feel quite strongly.'

Giving her snapshot perception of the race issue in Wales, Mari said, 'I think we’re relatively lucky in that we have a conscious acceptance of a visible minority that is Welsh. Socially and historically we are aware that we have people of colour as part of our Welsh population – not directly as immigrants, but as great-grandchildren and grandchildren of immigrants.'

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Source:ICWales.com