The ugly head of racism has surfaced in Ukraine, where African migrants are complaining that they are being sidelined at borders.
South Africans, Congolese and Rwandese are among the Africans stuck at border posts, where they say they are being treated differently.
“We are being pushed back to allow Ukraine nationals to get access to the border post,” complained an African woman who sent a video clip on WhatsApp.
Many of the Africans that are stuck in the freezing cold at border posts trying to flee the fighting in Ukraine are students.
At least one South African student is stuck at Medica – the International trade fair for medical technology.
With invading Russian forces advancing towards the capital, Kiev, more and more people are fleeing.
Trains, buses, cars, and people on foot are hightailing it out of cities and heading for neighbouring countries, but the borders have become congested and the lyrics of Big Bill Broonzy are said to be playing out.
“They says, ‘if you’s white, be all right’,”
“If you was brown, stick around”
“But as you black, oh brother, get back, get back, get back”
The Bulrushes has not yet been able to get a comment from the Ukrainian government about the complaints of racism.
