To answer that question, please read this post and add your comments.
Dariya looking smart for a friend's wedding
Dariya’s citizen journalist report as a Nigerian living in Ukraine is about his fear of racist attack. He speaks to his Nigerian friends and an Iraqi friend. Dariya’s fears are backed up in this report by Amnesty International which says that racism is on the rise there, as well as in other parts of Europe.
I asked Dariya to try and speak to white Ukrainians for his report. He spoke to four of his fellow students but they all did not want to speak on tape.
Dariya and Mustafa from Iraq talk together about why they think that people show prejudice and they put it down to not having wealth or the ability to travel to other countries to experience other cultures. Mustafa has not had any problems with racism himself and has a Ukrainian girlfriend. He is hopeful for the future and says that in time, these attitudes will change.
If you have any messages for Dariya, post them below.
Dariya’s report will be broadcast on BBC World Service Radio tomorrow.
4 comments
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April 22, 2009 at 6:03 am
Joseph Fai
Racism is more pronounced in poorer countries than in richer Countries for very obvious reasons. Resources are limited so the home population fear foriegners are there to “steal” away their resources. The local population is less educated about the other people. This is true even in the USA. In the cities and in States where the level of college grads are high e.g. Oregon, they are more tolerant to foriegners than poorer and less educated populated in states like West Virginia. Culture plays a very important role also. I am sorry to hear these stories from Ukraine but I can only advice my fellow brothers to keep the faith finish your schooling and move out to somewhere better. It took hundreds of years for Western Countries to change their attitudes about other people so I expect Ukraine will take a very long time, probably not in our lifetime to change. Patience is bitter but its fruits are sweet.
April 24, 2009 at 11:21 am
Nico
I live in Ukraine as a foreigner and never had any problems.
April 24, 2009 at 2:14 pm
nina robinson
Hi Nico – that’s good to hear, I don’t think Dariya is suggesting that all foreigners have a problem in Ukraine – indeed his friend Mustafa in Iraq says that he also does not have a problem. Do you think some places have more of a problem than others? Or do you think it comes down to the individual and how they perceives others?
May 7, 2009 at 2:36 pm
jaafar sani
Well all this while i was thinking Ukraine to be a very peaceful country untill all this recent events, but hearing this story from a Nigerian i will just say keep the faith brother and just hold on finish your studies and come and serve your fatherland we need people like you here. God doesn’t discriminate so i see no reason why a human being should