Aminata Toure became the first Black member of a state government when she was sworn in as the social affairs, youth, family, seniors, integration and equality minister in Germany’s northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein in June.
A Green and the daughter of refugees from Mali, Toure told German media that she sees her role as “special” given the numerous messages she has received from people who say her appointment has meant “a lot to them.”
The 29-year-old Toure said she would also take the opportunity to fight for equality and against right-wing extremism.
These issues have been her hallmark since she was first voted into Schleswig-Holstein’s state parliament in 2017.
It’s not the first time that Toure has achieved a political first. In 2019, she was elected as the state parliament’s deputy speaker, becoming the first Black person and the youngest politician to hold such a position in any of Germany’s 16 states.
