Africans in Ukraine: The hatred for black people globally.
- Oumou Haidara
- Mar 1, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 3, 2022
Photo: CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC News
Let‘s start by giving a brief back story to what is going on in the Ukraine.
Photo: Google images (NATO flag and logo)
What is NATO?
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO was founded in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. It consists of 30 nations and its allies. NATO’s purpose from the very beginning was and still is to protect its nations and allies by coming to each other’s defense in any way that they can. By anything, I mean anything. Most countries within NATO hold somewhat of a capitalist mindset and operate within capitalism to some extent. Remember that.
Photo: Google images (Soviet Union flag)
What is the Soviet Union and has it ever been apart of NATO?
The Soviet Union represented the U.S.S.R ( Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The Soviet Union consisted of 15 states including Russia. The Soviet Union operated from 1922 to 1991. After the Soviet Union’s disbandment, all 15 republics became independent countries. Fifteen republics turned countries that adhere to communist beliefs.
Photo: Google images
Capitalism vs. Communism Ideology
Both definitions as defined by Merriam-Webster Webster are as follows: Capitalism is an economic system in which the trade and industry of the economy is owned and controlled by private individuals, to make profit. Communism refers to social system in which country's trade and industry are controlled by the community and the share of each individual relies on his ability and needs. Are you starting to see the conflict in ideology that in turns leads to conflict in globalization and the domination of power over the everyday person?
Photo: Google images (Russian President Vladimir Putin)
What does President Vladimir Putin want?
President Putin has made it very clear that he does not want Ukraine joining NATO because of territorial issues. President Putin annexed Crimea to Russia in February/March of 2014. Crimea was a part of the Ukraine before then. The official date of Crimea’s annexation is March 18th, 2014. As better stated by CNN analysts Nathan Hodge and Tara John, “Putin has been very clear about his basic goals in invading: He wants to disarm Ukraine, sever its ties to the NATO military alliance and end the Ukrainian people's aspirations of joining the West. We will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. As well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.” This desire has led to what we’ve all been witnessing on social media. The bombings, separation of families, lost and injuries of loved ones. Is it worth it? Is President Vladimir Putin to blame? Who and what is to blame? Is it imperialism, globalism, all the isms, power, greed, difference in ideology?
Photo: NATO OTAN (Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg)
NATO’s Response
NATO’s official site reports that Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls son Russia “to stop this senseless war, immediately cease its assault, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and turn back to the path of dialogue and turn away from aggression” as of February 25th, 2022. A press conference is being today March 1st, 2022 with Secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and President of Poland Andrezj Duda. This press conference is discussing the accommodation of Africans into Poland.
Photo: Al Jazeera (Kyiv)
Where is the Ukraine and it’s citizens in all of this?
As of now, President Zelensky has made a televised appearance pleading for NATO’s help. President Zelensky has Aldo ordered men ages 18-60 to stay in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. In the meantime, citizens are leaving the city. Airports and apartments have been destroyed to the ground. Ukrainian citizens are sleeping in the train stations. Students from Ivory Coast and other west African countries are seen pleading government officials to find a way for them to get back home. The city is being destroyed right in front of our eyes. This is the last time some of these people will be seen alive. There’s old saying that goes like this: we know when a war starts but the end date is to be determined.
How does any this tie into colonialism and the way Africans are being treated in Ukraine?
Colonialism as defined by Merriam Webster is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting economically. Taking this definition into consideration, ponder over the next questions. Can Black lives truly be valued on other continents? Are any of the 54 countries within Africa truly independent of its “former” colonies? Where are the African leaders?
Since the concept of race was conceived to justify the enslavement of Africans all around the globe, “White” people have had this elitist mindset. In other words, they have to bring a group of people down in order for them to succeed. That mentality has translated into actions throughout history that have shown us that they need colonialism in order to function. The mistreatment and discrimination that Africans are facing is a reminder that the West needs colonialism to prosper. It needs colonialism in order for it to succeed. Imperialism, globalism, racism, discrimination and all the other isms fall under the umbrella that is colonialism. The simple answer as to why black people are hated globally is because it’s needed in order for people of European descent to succeed in worldly affairs.
Do you know what’s even more troublesome than that? The people who have been oppressed and abused by that mindset have subconsciously and/or consciously adopted it. No one wants to stay back home because there are no jobs. No one wants to do agricultural work anymore. The idea of “civilization” that has been planted and deeply rooted into the minds of Africans is something that has to be discussed. The fascination and determination with conforming to the definition of civilization has been an ongoing pandemic for the past century. The focus should be in unlearning what has been learned. The biggest change that can a person can do is have the mental fortitude and control over their own thoughts and beliefs. With that said, I leave you with two questions. Who or what is to blame? What have you done or what are you doing to decolonize your mind?
To Iran; Yemen; Palestine; Mali; Somal; Sudan Guinea; Niger; Iraq and all the other countries who have been at war for God knows how long, I am with you. I smell a revived sense of revolution. This revolution will be televised.
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