Finnish PM Apologizes to Finland’s First Black Saint Lucia Over “Racist Abuse”

Daniela Owusu

Is it really “racist abuse”?

Or is it simply a “racist opinion”?

The Guardian:

A young Black woman who was subjected to racist abuse after being selected to lead celebrations of a Swedish festival of light in Helsinki has received an apology from the Finnish prime minister.

According to the Swedish tradition, each year a young woman or girl is chosen to represent Saint Lucia by dressing in a costume of a white gown, red waistband and crown of candles as part of the official annual festivities in Finland at the Lutheran Cathedral on 13 December to mark the shortest day according to the Julian calendar.

About 5% of people in Finland, which until 1809 was part of Sweden, speak Swedish as their native language, which is one of two national languages in the Nordic country.

Daniela Owusu, 20, who is Finnish Ghanaian, received thousands of hate messages after on Friday becoming Finland’s first Black Lucia. The organisers have reported the abuse to police and the discrimination ombudsman and are considering taking legal action.

During a visit to the Finnish parliament on Tuesday, where the Lucia choir sang in the state hall, the prime minister, Petteri Orpo, met the group and said he was sorry for the comments to which Owusu had been subjected, adding that he wanted to build a safe and equal Finland.

After winning the public vote to be Lucia, Owusu had said that she wanted to act as a role model to inspire others. “It would be important to have a Lucia who represents multiculturalism and to show that Lucia can look many ways,” she said.

So they hated her skin?

Wow, that is evil.