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Black Mumsnetters

This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.

Original poster

Global Anti- Blackness, China now Ukraine, it too much

192 replies

debbrianna · 27/02/2022 11:34

It's soul destroying to watch other black people suffer in the middle of a pandemic or war where it has nothing to do with race. The videos from China was horrible. Now we are seeing the same from Ukraine. Why? We are people too. The chances of this war spread to the UK is not far off and that scares me.
We all see colour and it's annoying when people claim they don't. Evidence from around the world shows hate. I hope the black resident of Ukraine and black students trying to leave find away out. I joke they survive too. They should have the same right as everyone else who wants to leave.

By the way, don't come at me that this is not the time. It is and I am tired. We are humans too.

OP posts:
Original poster
debbrianna · 27/02/2022 13:32

Interesting thread to follow.

twitter.com/afuahirsch/status/1497859989037277187?t=fVH7UAKetZYl3CJVkhensQ&s=19

OP posts:
emuloc · 27/02/2022 14:16

I have just seen a couple of videos, where it looks like black people are being stopped from getting on the train in Ukraine, and people of Indian heritage are being prevented from entering Poland, with the hope of being evacuated by the Indian Embassy. It would seem that once again poc are being unfairly treated. No change there then. It is the same old story, and yes I am sick of it too. There is a thread in chat about refugees at the moment, and some of the replies are frankly racist. It is never ending.

dratsnotyouagain · 27/02/2022 15:41

I know. I have been listening to people saying now is not the right time after watching video after video of 19 year old children being turned away, denied access to trains etc. When the bloody hell then? If we don't speak about and make it an issue, they will continue to be turned away and die despite having walked, trekked, hitchhiked all across the country to get to safety.

The social media reporting and activism has helped Black students plan their routes to safety and access the borders allowing them through. When the bloody hell then? A hundred years from now after all the Black students have died unnecessarily and their families left unable to bury them, in some white saviour documentary/movie as entertainment so people can say "that was so bad" and pat themselves on the back because they have decided they are not as "racist" as people back then?

Fuck it, I will speak up every single day, every single time against anti-blackness. It is always the right time. Speaking up now has saved lives and helped students escape. Why the fuck should we keep quiet? Are their lives not worth anything?Are their lives not worth saving. These countries would rather save pets than Black students reesiding in the Ukraine legally.

As for the speech on how these refugees are different from the bunch and highly trained individuals - I'll let you in on a little secret - so are the other ones - a mix of poor, educated, skilled, non-skilled, wealthy, and non-educated just like in any society - their crime is being non-white and living in regiions that Western countries have invaded or destabilised politically etc., and they have sought refuge, but some are happy to watch these people drown. These students just want to leave the Ukraine so they travel home FFS. 500 Black students passing through your country to go home is not an invasion - let them through FFS

If you can have compassion for a white person's dog but zero compassion for Black people, you are racist, plain and simple, this is not a complex issue, let the students through.

BlowseNSkirt · 27/02/2022 19:10

Sorry you're feeling tired OP. How awful.

wannabeamummysobad · 27/02/2022 19:12

Frankly it's disgusting the way they are being treated. As always we'll have to look after our own because the global minority won't. I've been sharing contact details of organisations and people helping Nigerian students and workers in Ukrainian get home. It's clear the west won't help us.

TwoWorlds · 27/02/2022 19:24

I don't have anything useful to add. Just wanted to say I agree, and am so so depressed about it all.
Well done to everyone who's trying to help in any small way.

Lndnmummy · 27/02/2022 20:27

It is heartbreaking

Orchidflower1 · 27/02/2022 21:12

It’s so very heartbreaking.

Original poster
debbrianna · 27/02/2022 22:25

I am so grateful to all those who have helped. It's great the Internet has made this public.
Some of the embassies have been really good and coodinating with lots of organisations on the ground to get black people to areas where they can find help. The different towns and connections. The donations has been great.

OP posts:
TooTiredToSleepRightNow · 28/02/2022 17:01

I am not following the news but I want to help so please let me know what I can do. I’m not really active on social media but I really need to be for this reason. Yes I saw the disgusting, blatantly racist comments on that refugee thread.

emuloc · 28/02/2022 17:19

It is a pity that the other thread was deleted. It should be out there what is happening to black/brown people in Ukraine. The more people that are aware of the blatant racism going on there, the better. As usual with MN, they just delete the threads, instead of making it know in a message that they do not tolerate racism.

belljar89 · 28/02/2022 17:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

EchoNan · 28/02/2022 18:51

So you are posting on Black Mumsnet to tell us that news reports about black and brown students stuck at the borders are just Russian propaganda Belljar?

It is possible to condemn what is happening in Ukaine, whilst remarking on the seeming racist behaviour of border officials. Or does that not compute in your world?

Biscuit

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-60555650

www.france24.com/en/europe/20220228-pushed-back-because-we-re-black-africans-stranded-at-ukraine-poland-border

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-refugees-racism-russia-invasion-b2024175.html

indianexpress.com/article/india/russia-ukraine-with-students-stuck-at-poland-border-india-looks-at-budapest-route-7793812/

wannabeamummysobad · 28/02/2022 19:06

@belljar89 you know not of what you speak so please stop speaking. It's definitely true that black Africans and South Indians are being sent back at the boarders.

My uncle is a pastor and he and his network are working tirelessly to help them get out. It's a terrible situation not helped when people care more about Ukrainian policies being seen to be racist instead of the human impact of the racist policies.

EchoNan · 28/02/2022 19:28

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-60555650

"Osemen, from Nigeria, told the BBC he had tried to get on a train in Lviv to take him to the Polish border but was told only Ukrainians would be allowed on board.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said there were about 4,000 Nigerians in Ukraine, mostly students.

He said one group had repeatedly been refused entry to Poland so they travelled back into Ukraine to head for Hungary instead.

All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under the UN Convention, and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference," Mr Buhari said in a tweet.

GreenLunchBox · 28/02/2022 19:32

I'm tired too, OP

belljar89 · 28/02/2022 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

GreenLunchBox · 28/02/2022 20:55

You are very aggressive.

My 2 sisters are volunteering on Polish border helping with animals left behind on Ukrainian border.

There is no such a thing as racism towards ANYONE
Poland is letting everyone in even without valid passport!

Where to start with this post.

"You're aggressive" tick

"My sister/brother/ uncle/dog blah blah blah....." tick

"There is no such thing as racism" tick

DFOD

wannabeamummysobad · 28/02/2022 20:56

@belljar89 please direct me to where I was aggressive.

You have your views- I don't agree with them. I have countered with what I know to be true.

As a black woman I'd greatly appreciate if you refrained from throwing around the word aggression when I'm simply informing readers about what my black family are witnessing people experiencing and actively trying to support them when those at the boarder aren't.

GreenLunchBox · 28/02/2022 20:57

I would just ignore the squatter going forward. How infuriating Angry

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 28/02/2022 21:04

@belljar89 - have a look at cowriesking or naija.wifey on instagram. Both documenting how difficult it is for black Africans to get out of Ukraine. They’re doing everything they can to get information and support to people.
Last night they were advising to go down to the Hungarian border. I can’t imagine how frightening it must be there at the moment, but then to make it to the border and be kept from crossing.
It is happening, there are videos and first hand accounts, I’m not sure why you don’t want ti believe it’s true.

emuloc · 28/02/2022 21:15

@GreenLunchBox

I would just ignore the squatter going forward. How infuriating Angry
This. How tiresome. Comes on here throws around a stereotypical trope and then denies racism.