Through my African Eyes: Racism has Raised its Ugly Face in the Russia - Ukraine Conflict
03-02-2022
By Stephen Apollo
In recent times, the world has sadly witnessed Russia launch a catastrophic military invasion into Ukraine. Missile and rocket strikes have left a devastating effect in Ukraine, leaving dozens of people dead, many injured, and wanton destruction of infrastructure. We have seen long queues of Ukrainians lining up for arms, ready to defend their country. Although the Ukrainian government has banned all the male citizens between the age of 18 and 60 from leaving the country, we have seen some women refusing to leave the country and they too have taken up arms ready to defend their flag. I still remember a very disturbing video shared on social media, of a young Ukrainian girl who courageously confronted a Russian soldier and told him to leave her country. We have seen saddening media footages of mothers with young children and teenagers traveling towards neighboring boarders and hundreds of people taking shelter in subway stations.
The invasion is escalating and attempts for negotiation seem unsuccessful at this point. The menacing presence of a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian tanks and vehicles in Ukraine and the targeting of civilian areas with increasingly powerful weapons, is heartbreaking to say the least.
Outside of the Ukraine, we have seen tremendous acts of solidarity from most parts of the world. We have seen western governments and organizations give sanctions against Russia as well as logistical and humanitarian support to Ukraine. Sporting organizations and bodies have not been left behind, with many giving bans and restrictions. Millions of people around the world have showered Ukraine with their fervent prayers and thousands have taken to the streets to show solidarity. Others have taken rather bizarre actions to show solidarity. For instance, we have seen bar owners and patrons here in the United States and elsewhere, pouring Russian vodka down the drain to protest invasion and replacing it with Ukrainian spirit to show solidarity.
All said and done, there is an ugly side that has showed up alongside the violence. Unexpectedly and unfortunately, racism has found its way in an already dire situation. I will mention two situations. First, there is racist international news commentary out of the Ukraine. For instance, Alan MacLeod has documented a thread on some biased, prejudiced, and systemic racism on display in international journalism on the conflict, on his Twitter account.[1] For instance, a senior foreign correspondent at CBS News reported that Ukraine is more civilized than Iraq and Afghanistan. After a widespread condemnation of these words as racist and historically inaccurate, the journalist is said to have apologized for usage of the offending words. Ukraine's Deputy Chief prosecutor, David Sakvarelidze said on BBC interview, "It's very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blond hair being killed."
Secondly, there is open racist discrimination and dehumanization of African people in Ukraine. Ukraine hosts thousands of students from Africa, who are in pursuit of cheaper alternatives of higher education. We have seen footages from reputable international media house showing stories of African students being discriminated and dehumanized at the hands of some Ukrainians. For instance, we have stories of Africans who were forced to walk very long distances for more than 12 hours to cross neighboring boarders, simply because they were forcibly stopped from boarding buses on account of their skin color.[2]
While the recent conflict is taking surprising turns and twists, racism is not new, it has been around and now it has found an opportune time to manifest. As the common mantra goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right” and this injustice is just wrong as the war itself. As we speak against violence, we must also speak against racism in the heart of the violence. As we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainians, we should also stand in solidarity with Africans and indeed everyone else, who have been subjected to grievous discriminative and dehumanizing experiences as they too run away from the war. Indeed, human dignity has no color and nationality. Martin Luther Jr’s words remain true, “Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere” and we must therefore condemn it no matter who is practicing it, the oppressor or even the oppressed. May the joyful bells of peace, justice, and restoration, be heard in Ukraine.
Work Cited:
[1] https://twitter.com/AlanRMacLeod/status/1497974245737050120?t=DDP9yKakTLyNMXsJ1F5JTQ&s=08
Photo by Yohan-Marion from Unsplash
