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Soviets loved thinking of themselves as the least racist nation on Earth, the only hope of colonized POC.
In reality, ethnicity was the most important human characteristic in the USSR. It was written into our internal IDs and was the basis of how we'd be appraised by society. https://twitter.com/sovietvisuals/status/1362038591094988810
In reality, ethnicity was the most important human characteristic in the USSR. It was written into our internal IDs and was the basis of how we'd be appraised by society. https://twitter.com/sovietvisuals/status/1362038591094988810
The very bottom of the ladder was "Jew", of course. The entire reason for the dreaded "Line 5" in our passports was said to be to identify Jews. In fact, saying "His Line 5 is problematic" was a universally-recognized euphemism for "He is a Jew."
But yes, Africa is fighting.
But yes, Africa is fighting.
A bi-ethnic child born to a Russian/Jewish family would always be written as "Russian" in Line 5 to make sure he doesn't face discrimination in the future. Many took mothers' last names. Many took mothers' names even if she was also Jewish, but her name was less obvious...
Those who had no escape but were lucky enough to marry a woman with an "okay" last name, would sometimes take the wife's name. Many others would mock such pathetic attempts to whitewash their passports.
"They don't punch your passport, they punch your nose", went the joke.
"They don't punch your passport, they punch your nose", went the joke.
But Africa fought. And Africa won. And Africans are not exactly welcome in Russia nowadays.
Paternalistic antiracism is not much better than plain old racism, I guess. Especially when racism has always been extremely popular, if not recognized as such.
Paternalistic antiracism is not much better than plain old racism, I guess. Especially when racism has always been extremely popular, if not recognized as such.
