THE PLIGHT OF BLACKS IN RUSSIA

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Felix N. Mbah

THE PLIGHT OF BLACKS IN RUSSIA

 

Nigger, black monkey etc. These are the common words often hailed at blacks on Moscow’s streets by Russians ranging from, youths who brand themselves as skinheads, hooligans to those who from sheer bravado want to show how able and Russian they are. Included are also adults, drunks and sometimes the honorary babushka. Calling these names is but a lesser aspect of the activities of these individuals or groups of Russians. More offensive and threatening is when they start spitting at their black victims irrespective of the adornment of the individual. Also the mimicking and gesturing at the individual in imitation of a monkey climbing a tree, eating a banana or doing some circus act, is very embarrassing.

Russians are very hospitable amongst many other virtuous attributes. The activities of these rambunctious individuals are shameful and damaging to their image. Thus it is worthwhile to confront this issue with an open and frank approach, also trying individual and collectively to procure the panacea.

The Black American Marine who lost a tooth at the CD market from beatings meted by skinheads was just an example of the plight of Blacks in this country. His case received the celebrated attention of the media and authorities because he happened to be American nothing, which he did to merit that citizenship, likewise his Russian nemesis that also did nothing to merit the Russian nationality except that their parents are Russian. Attacks on Blacks in Moscow and surrounding regions are so rampant that some of the Blacks have came to their sad conclusion through this way.

No Black is safe walking alone in the streets, walking around recreational facilities especially parks, riding the metro, the buses or electrishkas etc. It’s very difficult for a black to encounter a group of youths and pass by without risking being kicked, punched or just spit at while uttering some derogatory remarks about the monkeyness of the black. Since the police and the general public pays no attention to these attacks except if the individual happens to be American or some great country, blacks have virtually remained silent about these attacks. The police have remained nonchalant. Some who exercise patience and sympathy, (though not to the extend of punishing the culprits) will advise that blacks shouldn’t move around alone. It is not an over statement to say that there is no black (African) male who had lived in Moscow for more than six months without harboring a scar, received from an encounter with these Russians.

To conclusively define those who actually inflict or perpetrate such attacks is useless, but amongst the people, some stand out like pedestals and are quickly noticed; Group of boys wearing the brown military fatigues, ornamenting themselves with chains hanging around the waists. They can either be clean-shaven or not, but in any case they constitute a threat to the safety of Africans. Others also adorned themselves in black or blue shirts and jeans or khaki pants, with booths frightfully threatening. These need to be avoided as much as possible. Very difficult to encounter a group of three or four and walk away without limping and bleeding. Wearing their leather jackets with numerous zips and buckles, the public looks at them as just rock fans. These guys though presenting less physical trouble are also threatening. They amongst other things are most gifted with spitting at their foes (blacks).

Objectively looking at the reasons for such attacks and their unhindered continuation, one is tempted to conclude that the white public (foreign and indigenes) are in support for these attacks. By the way are these youths not helping to propagate the white superiority notion?

The white press and voice have remained virtually silent about this issue. Sometimes they make some feeble attempts to caution blacks about some dates which they shouldn’t go out to the streets. Why can’t they condemn such acts out rightly? They condemn the killing of panda bears, sharks and whales yet fellow humans are tortured and killed around them without any condemnation. Isn’t it ridiculous for one human being telling the other not to go out because another human being will beat him because they are not the same color?

Also the fact that these so-called skinheads and hooligans copy their fashion and style from mentors in civilized refined societies like Britain and Germany is worthy of notice.

As already mentioned above, objectively looking at the reasons why dark skin humans are the victims of such barbaric tendencies and actions, it is worthwhile to take into consideration the depraved disposition of these Russians. They like their western counterparts have been exposed to the modern world and its benefits. Through the media, computer, fashion and interactions, they have been exposed to the facilities and comforts of the twenty-first century, yet they remain largely spectators. They watch youths of their own age in the US and Europe ride in slick cars, dress with modern expensive fashion and maintain costly hairstyles. They watch as their western colleagues rent or own cozy apartments while they themselves are crammed together with their parents and sisters in komulkas. They are frustrated and at such direct their anger at the poor darkies who are no better than they are.

At other times they are really proud of their fatherland Russia and can’t understand why some creatures they are having problems believing to be humans are sharing their sun, glitter and glamour. Their pride, the giant metro infrastructure, tall buildings, straight wide streets and beautiful sights are not to be shared with monkeys they protest.

Always, before and during every beating session, these predators never stop calling their victims, monkey. Sometimes they blame their preys for their mishap, sufferings and poor economic, situation which is senseless. These names can be for fun, but they relish calling the name of monkey as if it is more painful than the tortures. Never could a discussion ensue between a black and a Russian without the subject of monkey creeping in. some Russians could be patient the first and second time but finally some day, they will eventually let loose the cat. A Russian girlfriend once asked some black guy why his palms like hers are white, of which he innocently and good-naturedly replied that it is just the pointer to the fact that all humans are the same despite the color of their skins. But he was corrected by the girl that, the reason for the color difference is because like brother monkey, the palms are used to climb trees. More embarrassing considering that it is a girlfriend saying this.

That not withstanding is fanned by TV pictures of Africans. TV documentary programs about Africa, shown in Russia and other countries have always been the same. Half-naked people living in deep forests, in huts nobody could advance reason for their type and existence gnawing at raw meat or doing some early centuries activities like hunting without any feasible weapon. Youths and even adults after watching these films are more convicted that blacks are animals resembling men. In Africa today any reasonable person will quickly notice the civilization that has positioned itself in every country, but to many white people, the notion that Siberia is only snow and bears just sticks forever also as that Africa is crocodiles, giraffes, monkeys and half-baked men. Thus Russian youths could not compromise the fact that apes are dressed like humans and sometimes are handsome. They couldn’t imagine how such beings should be able to posses money as to pay for their tuition and the necessities of life, and even having the effrontery of sparing something for the poor beggar on the street.

All in all, blacks constitute a challenge to the pride and manliness of these Russian youths. The further going out of blacks with Russian women, which they consider the only thing left for them to honor and protect, is aggravatory. No one can deny the fact that the sight of a black boy walking on the streets with a Russian girl is very strange and provoking intense emotions on the part of the Russians, leading to jealousy and hatred. The Russians venerate their women and many have transferred their gender right to these women. It seems that the men have also handed to the women their latter years, because looking at the number of babushkas crawling the streets without dedushkas it is but very easy to conclude towards that direction. Their women mean every thing to them. They provide the men with accommodation, lodging them against the Russian cold. How can they share these precious women with blacks?

Finally it is also worth noting that some of these youths attack blacks to show off. Others fight to test their prowess, since beating a black means conquering strength itself. There is nothing bad with sparring. The question here is why pick upon an unwilling and unprepared partner. The banditry tendencies of these youths have also led them to carry out their attacks on blacks. They attack with the aim of securing some dollars or foreign monies for their selves. Valuables are also not spared. Thus many successful attacks have not only left the victims disfigured and bleeding (if not dead), but also cleared of all money and valuables. It is useless for a black to wear expensive watches and ornaments because sooner or later they are going to be stolen in one of these encounters which are unavoidable.

It sometimes makes sense when these youths attack blacks on the pretext that they are trying to emancipate themselves from the corruption of these blacks and their evil influence on their lives. Though their method of justice as crusaders in this wise is deplorable, there remains some justice in it. Blacks as of late have regrettably taken upon themselves the retail aspect of drug trafficking particularly in Moscow, even though the large question is who is bringing in the drugs. Considering that whichever organization is bringing in these drugs will still somehow acquire means of distribution. Still yet, blacks present themselves as appealing channels for this medium given their noticeable color, desperation and reputation elsewhere. But after the ruble collapse, even the authorities will agree that blacks participation in this trade has dwindled considerably. Therefore, why continue the slaughter.

If the blacks are considered as humans, the white public should try to understand and denounce these attacks. The public should know that their say is very important in combating this social ill. It is quite understood that these youths don’t actually know what they are doing. They need some public and private lectures on the oneness of all humans despite the color. Brotherly love should be preached more consciously and fervently by the Christian churches and organizations which are pouring into the country. The foreign white community showing some interest in the plight of blacks and consequently voicing out their opposition to such treatments will lend more credibility to the voice of the depressed blacks. It has been noticed that whites (foreign and indigenes) know very little about the situation of blacks vis-a-vis this issue. Therefore this is an exhortation to the good nature of the whites, to do something considering that hooliganism is only one of the many problems plaguing blacks in this country, others include, joblessness, police harassment, discriminations, etc. The case of the US marine is but a tip of the iceberg.

In conclusion, blacks are reminded of their legendary strength. They are advised to fight back and be relentless about it, since experience had shown that bullying a bully always brings forth-useful results.