City councillor on the racism he experiences in New Zealand | Stuff.co.nz
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2022
- Former refugee turned city councillor Orphee Mickalad talks about the racism he has faced and the need to rise above it to make a difference in his community. Read: bit.ly/3xq2e2O | Subscribe: bit.ly/2JPg8oB
Online abuse and verbal insults remain routine for the first former refugee to be elected to public office in New Zealand, but he will not flinch to racism.
Orphee Mickalad, 32, doesn’t just have time commitments and career ambitions to weigh up when considering if he should seek re-election to the city council in Palmerston North in October, there is also the toll of unrelenting prejudice.
“I experience racism almost every day,” he said. “I’ll walk past a traffic light and someone will yell, ‘go back to your own country’, and drive off.”
Mickalad is no stranger to living among hostility. He and his family escaped war in Congo for a new life in New Zealand when he was 15. He went from speaking little English to winning a seat on council in a 2021 by-election.
Read more: bit.ly/3xq2e2O
Video: Warwick Smith/STUFF
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Good luck to him. That’s pretty tragic to hear Palmerston North.
If politics is where your heart is ,go for it my bro , do great things
Yeah. But in politics one has to have a thick skin regardless of where and who they are. Thats why I went the engineering route. I can't take the political drama. I salute the brave gentleman.
Hey, you are a great brave man willing to give back to the community and the country just put your light on the box not under that everyone will see it and they will eventually see it and be drawn to you, don't give up and don't give in, do your best and leave God the rest you are not alone, God bless
I'm sorry Orphee, you are inspiring more people than you know. We love you 💛
i hv been to nz and it was not pleasant, beautiful country but as a culture they are still far away from accepting that the color of a person does not matter.
It’s the problem in New Zealand.
I was doing a bachelor of counselling in a hope that I could really support the vulnerable people in NZ. And one the tutor started a hate speech about Asian coming to the country to Rob all the fishes, then his students were so excited and confirmed that 100 💯of overfishing are Asians without presenting any evidence any stats.
And they were ok with that.
It disgusts me that they are student and teacher counsellers
I'm assuming the person was meaning the country causing the most harm to any fisheries industry is China. That doesn't need to be proved because you can find that statistic online yourself quite easily.
The fact that the population of Auckland has sky rocketed due to migrants which has endeavoured to create issues for citizens finiding affordable living, jobs and has helped to hike prices of food, house hold items and more up significantly in Auckland specifically. Non issue to me, I find the mixing of culture and the diversity to be quite fun.
Wishing you the very best Orphee 🥰
It's really sad that some people only ever see skin colour. As a pakeha I experience racism every time I'm in the far north and it sux. Majority of people are good people though so ignore the haters, anyone so ignorant that they judge you based on melanin levels doesn't warrant worrying about.
They're just closed minded people not very diverse.
Good on him for speaking out. I cannot help feeling if some are racist, we all are. Meaning we all need to speak out and sometimes that's reporting people that behave in a way that is belittling another person.
Kia kaha bro
Come on NZ as a multi cultural country don’t stand for racism hope many of us speak out against those who need to be educated and reminded of our humanity
Good on you bro..you an inspiration to give back to the country that embraced you 👏
wish you well, and sorry that that kind of hate still exists in nz
Hi Brother don't worrie moari people call some nasty word because of our skin color sorry to hear about your experience
Don't lose hope mate, keep up the good work and show them you are the better man!
Damn, that's shit.
Dont worry uce! Theres more love for you then there is hate!
Good on you, u have my support!
Keep going my dude. You’ve come this far, don’t let this hinder your growth…f*ck them who try and hinder this opportunity for you
im proud of you
There's stupidity in various areas of society unfortunately and it appears that there are some idiots in Palmerston North also. Keep going Orphee we're not all dipsticks, all the best.
Love this thank you for being gangster and perseverance
This man is gorgeous ❤
He could talk about the 99% of decency he received why focus on the tools?
Well said. He spoke truth. Let the haters hate. It's a small number, so not worth even givin them a second thght.
I'm sick of this
Orphee, you are welcome with my people brother!!
Stay strong young man
Racists should be sent to the Army as rehabilitation on their small minded views.
bloody embarassing some of you in NZ..shameeee....bet its the ones who immigrants themselves--Kia Kaha brother
only racism iv'e seen here in NZ is Maoris against Asians on s few occasians
White go against Asian as well
@@deklerkverwoerd7721 racism is a system. Māoris don’t control anything there
KIA KAHA 🙏😎
That's just all the ball-heads my brother!! Us MAORI & POLYNESIANS got your back my bro, move up here to Auckland we hate racists
Welcome to our world moari and proud seen it all my life ignorance is no excuse I put down to little brain matter
Keep marching on brother! Don't take any notice of those who have nothing else better to do than try and knock the black man down. They are on a lower level than you! Shine your light
dude i think you are very confused with who the hates coming from !
If you just do things right manner genuinely in New Zealand, than you will not have any issue.
That is quite a naive thing to say
@@rsin103 not really
A stupid comment. Clearly he faced issue
@@FAMEROB so this guy did something wrong?
@@JohnJohn-yp7exwow. You are dumb. She's right. But she is right in the sense that if you do things in the right manner genuinely in any country you SHOULD be treated with the same manner. That isn't to say it always happens.
I thought racism doesn't exist in NZ
safer in Africa
yeah sure
But he is a New Zealand citizen you idiot.
And In fact, he pays tax and works hard to be here.
Practice to think wiser, not everyone can enter New Zealand then stay.
A lot of Chinese after years of paying a rip-off tuition fee, ended up moving back to their country. The nz Govt does not offer free citizenship to human around the world
Its safer in europe...
NZ is the second safest country in the world. Mauritius is the safest African nation and its at number 28.