Ukranian, welcome! Middleastern, African? Get to back of the bus!

[OldieWordly]

The war in Ukraine is truly horrendous, but so are all the wars happening all around the world. It is happening in Europe, a place this country is geographically and culturally a part of. So we can emphasise more with the Ukranians and hence the outpouring of support.

But it also helps that they are white and look like the majority of this country, and therefore more support is volunteered.

Why do I as a black woman, while feeling great empathy and sorrow, also feel that other asylum seekers also fleeing war and destruction in their home countries, have been relegated to the back of the bus?

Where are the offers of a sponsored home from UK individuals/families and reimbursement of £350 a month? The right to live in the UK for up to 3 years? The right to work, or to immediately access benefits if needed?

Many of you may say, it's not about skin colour, ethnicity etc, it's about humanity. But tell me, why do so many of us black, brown or non white people often have a feeling of being treated subconciously as belonging at the back of the bus? And the welcome given to Ukranian refugees as apposed to those from Syria troubles me greatly.

there have been previous threads on this

I suspect it’s a lot to do with our fears for our own safety and that this war has the possibility to come to our doorstep. There’s been plenty of hype and fear mongering about Putin and nuclear attacks.
The cynic in mean feels that people would be equally as disinterested in the Ukrainians as they are other refugees if they didn’t feel at some level their was personal risk to our own country.

@CannaBelieve

there have been previous threads on this

So what?

I hear you OP.

**there

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe well the answers to those questions will be there!

@CannaBelieve

Sorry, but I'm not on mumsnet regularly. I scrolled through a few pages of threads but didn't see anything.

Just wanted to get my view off my chest.

Feel free to ignore and move on.

I completely understand your sentiment. The disparity in the way the media & world has approached this (horrendous) situation compared to other (equally horrendous) situations affecting other parts of the world & races, has left me feeling uncomfortable to say the least. I am white, so I don’t think I can claim to fully relate to how you feel, but I do see it too, and as I say, am not comfortable with it.

[quote CannaBelieve]@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe well the answers to those questions will be there![/quote]
The answers to most MN questions are in previous threads or Google. People sometimes like a little conversation with their answers 🙄

YANBU. Although I do recall mumsnet having a lot of Afghanistan threads last year and lots of posters wanting to donate/help.
I haven't been around on here long enough to know about the response to other situations when they started such as Syria or Yemen.

Yes, I don't understand it at all. I have been appalled by people's responses to refugees (Syrians drowning etc) and even Brexit. Now because the media tells us it is ok and good to care about Ukrainians, people are donating and offering their homes to Ukrainians refugees.

I remember lots of “heart break” and “devastation” when there were photos of dead Syrian babies washed up on UK shorelines but it was very short lived

Yanbu op. It's so obvious. And hurtful.

Absolutely agree, OP. The double standards around refugees are sickening; and it can only be down to skin colour/ religion.

The UK is hardly welcoming Ukrainian refugees. If you can get in you only get a visa, these people aren't claiming asylum and it is expected that they will go back to Ukraine as soon as possible.

I'm not sure the way forward for everyone is short term visas then sent home again?

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

I remember lots of “heart break” and “devastation” when there were photos of dead Syrian babies washed up on UK shorelines but it was very short lived

Look at the downward trend of threads on here. The same thing is happening. First there was panic because people were afraid Russia was going to target them, then once people felt the threat was minimal and stop being scared for themselves interest wained.

... an other race to the bottom thread. 🥱

@lookforthesun - this. Lots of the black, brown immigrants are on the whole, fit young men with no families, presumably left in their home country, so, economic migrants. And from France or Italy.

The refugees from Ukraine are refugees and fleeing nuclear attack or death by shooting.

I think it also helps to have a talented and media savvy president who knows when to channel Churchill and Henry V. He is an extraordinarily brave man and a terrific asset who helps people to see this war as a battle between the forces of good and evil.

I’ve been thinking something similar. I’m white with no family anywhere other than the Uk but I completely agree with what you’re saying.
There have been (and still are) wars in places across the globe which have caused thousands of people to flee and become refugees. I have to admit to not really understanding why the Ukrainian refugees are being treated in such a different way. I presume it’s something to do with it being quite close to home.

I do think you are right that the anti refugee/asylum seeker attitude in the UK is borne out of racism. A sense of ‘them’ and ‘us’ and that Ukrainians feel more like ‘us’. It’s depressing to think that, but I am glad we are at least welcoming Ukrainians now.

I’m remembering the horrific use of the photo of line of refugees/asylum seekers/migrants used in the Brexit campaign and the false messages about ‘stealing our jobs’ etc. so racist but swallowed wholesale by lots of the British public.

How things are reported makes a big difference.

The fact that it’s mostly women and children might play a part too.

I wish I could challenge you OP and disagree but sadly I do think there is truth in that.

I agree, I've given donations, and of course I support the people of Ukraine. I do have to wonder what would have happened to my family at the border, I'm white, my husband and children aren't.

Our ability to be charitable shouldn't be influenced by skin colour.

The children injured and scarred from the Syrian war is awful. I feel for.the innocent children of all colours and creeds and wish they were taken somewhere safe. But the UK cannot house the world and we have year after year taken in many thousands of people from war torn countries and even those.who arrive for our benefits only. We cannot keep up with constantly taking in more people as everyone is suffering in the long run. We are suffering a severe housing shortage, wait weeks to see a Dr, Local schools full up, months for.help for mental health issues and the list goes on. We are already sinking. The men who start these vile wars and those who use religion as an excuse to cause harm need to be stopped before it escalates like Hitler did.

As a mixed race person I’d like to ask you, do you know how many non white refugees this country has housed? Have you researched it properly?