National Public Radio (NPR) is receiving lots of backlash for its reporting on a story about Boston’s first woman and Asian mayor Michelle Wu. The 36-year-old Democrat was sworn in Tuesday in a ceremony that was framed as a ‘disappointment’ to the outlet.
“Michelle Wu, an Asian American, is the first woman and first person of color elected to lead the city,” NPR tweeted. “While many are hailing it as a turning point, others see it as more of a disappointment that the three Black candidates couldn’t even come close.”
The article quotes a civil rights activist and resident who “cried their eyes out” simply because a Black candidate didn’t win the city’s mayoral election.
“I mean the data speaks for itself, and it’s troubling,” former Massachusetts State Rep. Marie St. Fleur told NPR.
Newsroom consultant Emma Carew Grovum reacted to NPR’s piece saying the story had merit but that the “framing was absolute trash.”
“Why must we pit POCs against each other in storytelling?” Grovum tweeted. “Why can’t we celebrate a woman of color who has just reached a massive milestone in her career?”
Marty Walsh, Boston’s first Black mayor, endorsed Wu after falling short in the 2021 mayoral primary.
