Black in the USSR

<p>As Russian forces advanced from the east during the war in <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-moscow-kyiv-meet-negotiations-n1291795" target="_blank">Ukraine</a>, they faced unexpectedly fierce <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russian-offensive-unexpectedly-slowed-fierce-ukrainian-resistance-rcna17703" target="_blank">opposition</a> from the Ukrainian military and civilian population. And as fighting intensified, many in its path fled west. </p><p>But as people fled, not everyone was the given the same opportunity to seek refuge. In the middle of a war zone <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/open-door-die-africans-report-racism-hostility-trying-flee-ukraine-rcna17953" target="_blank">anti-Black racism</a> reared its ugly head, with reports of people from the African diaspora facing racist treatment at the Ukrainian border. In the eastern city of Sumy, home to a large contingent of <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-african-students-ukraine-are-leading-rescue-efforts-rcna18531" target="_blank">international students</a>, Black folks were beaten off of trains and buses fleeing the violence to make way for white Ukrainian citizens. </p><p>This week on Into America, we speak with Eniola Oladiti, a Black medical student from Ireland, who fled Sumy while that city was under siege. And host Trymaine Lee speaks with <a href="https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/kimberly-st-julian-varnon-war-ukraine" target="_blank">Kimberly St. Julian Varnon</a>, an expert on race in the former Soviet Union, about the unique experience of being Black in this part of the world. </p><p>For a transcript, please visit <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/intoamerica" target="_blank">https://www.msnbc.com/intoamerica</a>. </p><p>Thoughts? Feedback? Story ideas? Write to us at <a href="mailto:intoamerica@nbcuni.com" target="_blank">intoamerica@nbcuni.com.</a></p><p><strong>Further Reading and Viewing: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcbl