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James Omolo is Kenyan writer based in Poland. He has authored four books including Strangers At The Gate: Black Poland; Crossing The Colour Line: Interracial Marriage And Biracial Identity; The Beast: White Supremacy; Different But The Same.
In the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, many people of African Descent have been entangled in this predicament. Just like others, the war erupted abruptly leaving some with nothing but to flee.
The war has amplified and exposed the existential crisis of racial discrimination People of African Descent have been facing in Ukraine for many years.
People of African Descent and people of colour have been experiencing extreme hardship, due to the outbreak of the war and compounded further by the violent attacks from vigilante groups, covert racism and other manifestations of prejudice.
Their experiences as they flee the war have been widely documented by the victims, local and international media outlets, and civil society. There has been an uproar from some African governments such as Nigeria and South Africa on the ill treatment of their nationals in Ukraine.
There has been many accounts of blatant discrimination by the border guards officials in Ukraine as well as several border crossings by Africans who have managed to cross borders into Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. A video of Polish nationalists attacking Africans at the border was well captured.
The discriminatory practises at the onslaught of the war is nuanced and multifaceted. There has been reports that preferential treatment is being accorded to white Ukrainians. People of African Descent and People of colour are pushed back and told to wait for the Ukrainians to go first which leave some people with no choice but to spend days in extreme cold weather. They therefore resort to taking the perilous journey on foot towards the Polish border only to be turned back. As one Nigerian reported, They told us that “Blacks were not allowed, but we could see white people go through”
Accounts of discrimination in accommodation being made for all victims of war has also been reported. Some organizations have been giving preferential treatment to Ukrainians leaving People of African Descent and other People of Colour to homeless. Most of these people are being taken in by their fellow Africans or by Polish allies. Some also reported to feeling insecure being housed in facilities that are predominantly catering for Ukrainians. We can see the fear that arises due to long exposure to various manifestations of racism while in Ukraine.
As the invasion ravages the country, so is the pre-existing invasion of racism and prejudice. The war has exposed a great divide in Europe as well. It has exhibited the hypocrisy in European society, deep rooted in race. The sense of otherness is well projected especially when support mechanisms are being accorded. The dilemma surrounding Syrian, Iraqis and Afghanistanis refugees at the Belarusian border and outpouring support to Ukrainian refugees projects two worlds apart when it comes to showing compassion.
Documented and verified cases of people being stopped from boarding trains, segregated and pushed back to the end of the queues, shows that white Ukrainians are deserving while the rest are not. The deliberate arbitrary enforced regulations on evacuation trains, buses and at the border crossings in denying or delaying free movement of People of African descent exhibits the gravity of segregation based on skin colour. It not only shows bigotry but further exposes People of African descent to the risk of ravaging bombing.
We can clearely see that the solidarity extended to white Ukranians is overwhelming and selective at the same time. Bombs or bullets do not choose skin colour, solidarity should be applied to all regardless of race. Bigotry is morally and ethnically repugnant in embracing humanity. It is time unfair treatment of People of African descent and people of colour treated with dignity just like the other white Ukrainians displaced by war.