METIS Inter-racial Children's Charity Fund in Moscow, Russia

METIS Interracial Children's Charity Fund in Moscow, Russia

http://www.fundmetis.narod.ru/

 

1. The site isn't loading up on my server

2. HUH???

 

That's odd, I've been able to go to that site even from school computers. Well, let me copy and paste some info then.

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HOW DID IT ALL START?

How did the Inter-Racial Children's Charity METIS start? This unique organization has been in operation for over five years now. What was it like at the beginning? Here is our history.

In 1997, a group of Afro-Russians joined together on a voluntary basis, with the aim of establishing a meeting place for young people of color. At first, there were not many children – we started with a group of 30. We met together at volunteers' apartments to discuss the history, culture and music of Africa and Russia. We organized excursions in and around Moscow, trips to the theater and museums.

In July 1998, with official approval from the Committee of Public Education, we started to look for a place to house our children's center. The Russian People's Friendship University offered us a room to use for two hours per week. METIS was registered as a charitable non-profit organization by the Russian government in September 1999.

The mission of METIS is to improve the lives of mixed-race children through humanitarian assistance, education and training programs, and other avenues of social advocacy and support. It is the only organization of its kind in Russia.

Currrently there are over 300 children registered with METIS, mostly in Moscow and the Moscow region. In order to better serve the METIS families in Ryazan', a branch office was recently opened there (see story on Ryazan).

Over the past several years, METIS programs and activities have grown considerably. Of course this is due to increased sponsorship, and at present METIS is fortunate to have a diverse base of supporters for its projects. However, METIS is still run on an all-volunteer basis; staff receive no salaries and donate their time and skills. One of the key challenges facing METIS is to build a more secure financial base to move towards professional, paid staffing.

From the beginning, Emilia Tynes-Mensa has been the main force behind METIS. Her father, George Tynes, was an American citizen of color. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Tynes fled to the Soviet Union in 1933 to escape discrimination. He lived here for 51 years, working as a poultry specialist, married to a Russian woman. He could hardly imagine that half a century later his grandchildren would be leaving Russia for the same reason he had left the United States.

His daughter, Emilia Mensa, continues as head of METIS to this day.

CONTACT INFORMATION

METIS Inter-Racial Children's Charity Fund

Listvennichnaya Alleya 26


Tel +7 (495) 391 9710, Emilia's home phone
Tel +7 (916) 370 4016, Emilia's cell phone

(From the US: 011 then codes and number
7 is the code of Russia
495 is Moscow code
916 is Moscow cell phone code)
E-mail: fundmetis@narod.ru ; metis2001@mail.ru

Please sign our guestbook HERE.

FOR DONATIONS:

ACC # 40703810638060100318

BIK 044525225

INN 7707083893

C/ACC # 30101810400000000225

SBERBANK RUSSIA, MOSCOW

URGENTLY REQUIRED ITEMS:For Families: beds; blankets; computers; winter clothing and shoes. For METIS office: French and English language instruction books (beginning level) video camera; used car.
PLACE YOUR AD ON OUR WEBSITE OR IN THE NEWSLETTER!! Do you have an item of interest to the METIS community? Is there something you would like to post in METIS-NEWS? For information on advertising in the METIS Newsletter and on the website, call 391-9710 or email metis2001@mail.ru or fundmetis@narod.ru

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HELP? HOUSEKEEPERS, NANNIES, DRIVERS, teachers of RUSSIAN LANGUAGE and other subjects, MUSICIANS, AND OTHER TALENTED HELPERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE THROUGH METIS. CALL 391-9710 OR EMAIL metis2001@mail.ru or fundmetis@narod.ru

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to participate in the ethnic gatherings held each month for METIS children and families. We are especially keen to have people from Moscow's African community and the African embassies. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your culture and traditions with Afro-Russian children!

DONATIONS Cleaning Out? Moving? METIS families are often in need of household items. Your old and unwanted stuff could be new to someone else! Contact us if you have any items to spare. METIS welcomes all financial contributions, as well as donations of clothing and household items. To make your gift, contact METIS at tel. 391-9710 or email metis2001@mail.ru or fundmetis@narod.ru .
To make a donation by bank deposit:

ACC # 40703810638060100318

BIK 044525225

INN 7707083893

C/ACC # 30101810400000000225

SBERBANK RUSSIA, MOSCOW


Thank you for your help!


CURRENT METIS PROGRAMS

With financial assistance from sponsoring agencies, organizations, and friends, METIS is able to carry out the following programs and projects:

• Computer classes, offered weekly at both beginner and advanced levels

• English and French language classes, also offered weekly

• Donations of food packages to needy families each month

• Financial support to individual families

• Monthly ethnic gatherings for children and families

• Excursions to theaters, museums, and other cultural venues

• Distribution of a semi-annual newsletter

• Holiday celebrations for children and families

• Donations of clothing, toys, and household items

• Summer camp sponsorship

• Promotion of family reunification/ locating fathers of METIS children

• Assistance with access to free medical care

• Publicity and information about the problems faced by interracial children in Russia


SPONSOR A CHILD AT SUMMER CAMP



As little as 800 Rubles can help send a child to camp this summer



Summer is the time for fun. During the past few years METIS has been able to send groups of children to the summer camp “Friend” (Druzhniy), in the Naro-Fominsk suburb of Moscow. The camp offers various recreational activities: drawing, dancing, soccer and other sports, swimming lessons, films and reading. It is an ideal place for fun and relaxation, and a way to escape the heat and smog of Moscow and spend healthy time outdoors.



The Prefaktura of each Moscow city region will sponsor METIS children at the camp this year. Last year, 15 children were able to participate. Unfortunately, the number of places offered to METIS is declining, even as the number of needy children grows. In addition, the Prefaktura requires families to pay 10% of the cost – approximately 800 Rubles per child. For many families this is too much, and they will not be able to send their children to the camp.



But your support can make a difference. The full cost of sponsoring one child for a three-week session is approximately 8,000 Rubles; this covers all expenses, including transportation and camp fees. Or, for 800 Rubles, you can cover just the family's share of the fee.



Please help us send our children to camp. Summer is fast approaching. Don't delay - contact METIS today.


UNITED WAY RENEWS GRANT FOR FOOD PACKAGES


Once again METIS is grateful to United Way Moscow for its continued support of the Food Packages Distribution Project.

Through this project, 100 METIS families receive a bag of necessary food items each month (during 5 month). United Way funding also enables METIS to organize the monthly Ethnic Gatherings for the African-Russian community in Moscow at which the food packages are distributed. This new grant will cover a five-month period.

Thanks to this humanitarian assistance the mothers of these families are able to provide more time and care for their fatherless children. This support encourages the mothers to help their children receive additional education rather then having to focus on multiple jobs just to provide enough for their families. BACK TO TOP


MPC CONTINUES FOOD SUPPORT

For the fifth year, the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy (MPC) is continuing food assistance to METIS families. In 2006, MPC will provide 50 food packages each month, distributed to families from Moscow, Ryazan' and Tula. MPC also holds Bible readings which are much appreciated. MPC's contributions are a vital contribution to helping feed these needy youngsters and their families, both physically and spiritually. Thank you MPC!


HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES ENJOYED BY METIS COMMUNITY

This holiday season, METIS children and their families enjoyed holiday parties arranged especially for them. On December 17 METIS organized its annual western Christmas festivities, at Dom Offitserov. The party was a huge success, attended even by representatives of Moscow's diplomatic community. The Ambassador of South Africa, HE Dr. Bheki Langa attended, accompanied by his wife. Dr. Langa brought many gifts for the children, and enjoyed speaking with them in Russian. Representatives of the US and Indian embassies were also present, making donations of food and money. The children were delighted to watch a Christmas performance put on by members of the Baptist church. A good time was had by all!

On January 8 METIS was able to celebrate Christmas again. A special treat, arranged by the International Women's Club, came from Mr. and Mrs. Keshav Bhagat , who donated a luncheon for METIS at the Indian restaurant Vostochnaya Komnata in Smolensky Passazh shopping center. Thirty children along with mothers and a couple of fathers attended. Even some families from Ryazan' were able to come. Emilia Mensa reports, “There was so much food, and every dish was very tasty! Some of the children played chess, and everyone danced a lot, to the delight of the restaurant staff.”


A SMALL TRAGEDY
By Daria Okuneva

From Izvestiya, 16 September 2005

Recently Ryazan' was shaken by a wild scene. A ten year boy was beaten by his 40-year old neighbor. The kid was guilty only of not having white skin – he was a mixed-race (metis) child by the name of David Nahenu. David was taken to the hospital with bruises and injuries to the soft skin of his head. Luckily this story didn't have a tragic end: David recovered from his injuries, and the offender subsequently agreed to pay the compensation for the harm caused.

Based on data from the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN), from the 1960s up to now, more than 70,000 students from the “black continent” have been to Russia. Leaving behind a trace of their existence here, they left over 40,000 metis offspring. Today the number of children from mixed marriages is constantly on the rise, and all of them encounter the advent of xenophobia. Eight of every ten such kids are taken care of by Russian mothers who are in no condition to fight against poverty and a society turned nationalistic.


A NORMAL STORY

“The story is similar for most of the girls,” says Emilia Tynes-Mensa, President of METIS-The Inter-Racial Children's Charity Fund. They met students from Africa in clubs and institutes. In their twenties, they are neat, clever and very sexy and of course they are also intrigued by the local blondes, and the blondes by them. Love affairs are started which often end in pregnancies. Africans are deeply convinced that kids are a blessing and the more there are, the better. They don't resist and with pleasure marry the Russian girls. And after five years they finish their education and fly back home. The young man who has graduated and knows a foreign language is considered an ideal husband [back in Africa]. Moreover the conservative African family at times looks negatively at “white” brides.

There is one more scenario, but it is truly very rare: the African takes his family along. Most of the girls find this variant acceptable. But in practice they find it nearly impossible to stay in Africa. In the first place many countries are experiencing civil wars, for example in Congo; also, there are the problems of poverty and high unemployment. Secondly, most mothers just can't adapt to the hot and dry climatic conditions and different epidemics, in particular malaria. Thirdly, for the ladies, probably the hardest thing is to accept their husbands' unfaithfulness. Africans are polygamists by nature, if this was subdued by the local order, then in their native land nearly all the healthily men have, if not more than one wife, then definitely more than one lover. And don't forget about the language and cultural barriers.


CHOCOLATE TEARS

“What I hate most in the whole world is going to school,” confirms 12 year old metis Alina Silvia. “At home I was tenderly called ‘chocolate,' in class the name ‘starveling' has stuck on me. There was a time during physical education when I fell and soiled my uniform. I definitely cried. The others just laughed and said that I'm supposed to always wear dirty clothes so that the clothes match with my skin color and unclean origin. Another time, when I faltered at the blackboard, my classmates were shouting to the teacher: “Yes, she's stupid. It's a nigger from the palms”. It was very humiliating. At long last I convinced mother to take me from school. I study at home with hired teachers. Up to now I have very few friends, yep kids from the neighborhood, only one girl from my courtyard.”

The worst thing that takes place is that some of the teachers take part in hurting the metis. Many such examples have accumulated in the METIS organization. Angela, a dark skinned girl with a great voice, could not received her well-earned prize at young talents competition. She was told: “How can a nigger win in the festival of Our Home – Russia?”


MOTHER RETURN ME TO THE WOMB

A truly tragic story was told by Galina Victorova Fedina, who is now taking care of her grandson, a metis. “After my son-in-law, an Ethiopian, left, my daughter tried in all ways to organize her private life. She had an affair with a Russian man and when things were heading towards marraige she decided to introduce him to her son. The man went berserk and shouted, ‘I hate prostitutes who sleep with niggers. Forget about the wedding!' My daughter was depressed, and later she went to another man, practically leaving me with the kid. Now we are not communicating.”

If there are no relatives ready to take in the metis, then he is in dire straights. Not long ago one of the organization's members heard over the radio that the director of a children's home was basically begging listeners to adopt a metis – he was being beaten by his age mates. Sadly METIS was not able to rescue the boy and the SOS signal was never repeated. METIS hopes the boy was adopted at long last, but we also fear that he might no longer be alive.


A MESSAGE FROM AFRICA

Maybe the situation would not be this critical if the mothers were paid alimony. Theoretically it's possible but in practise, it's not realistic.

“The possibility of getting alimony from one of the African governments is maximum 10%”, - explained to NI Roman Dyachkov, head of the judicial firm Fact. In order to sue an African who is in his homeland, it's necessary to locate him first. No court will take the case if you don't prove that the person in case exists. You need to get his letters or bills. The consular departments are supposed to help in such instances but they normally don't deal with such cases. One has to use personal resources. Then the court starts calling the African to court hearings. More than half a year pass for the court to decide whether to listen to the case without the defendant. Even if you'll have the court's decision, it's not a fact that you'll be paid the money. Firstly, there may be no respective international agreement between Russia and the African country. Secondly, the court has to send a letter to the employers of the defendant, about the plaintiff who in most cases they have never heard about. Thirdly, even if the employer gets the letter, he can decide to ignore it. Practically the Russian court has no way of putting pressure on the person who is not paying alimony, if he is in Africa.

This way the decision of whether or not to support his Russian family is in the hands of the African father only. But according to METIS there are practically no cases of voluntarily payment of alimony. At home the Africans usually have families and usually they don't even have enough for them.


PROHIBIT LOVE

The answer to the situation, according to Emilia Tynes-Mensa, is propaganda to female students. “Because when they start a relationship with Africans, most of them are not aware of the situation they are putting themselves into. The young ladies have no idea of African culture and taboos, nor about the effects of even a short affair with a fine African man. The decision to give birth to a metis child should be well thought out. Then the situation of the unusual child will be better.”

“Of course, we hope that the xenophobic mood of our society will come to an end,”

adds Tynes-Mensa.

According to specialists at the social-psychological centre of Moscow State University, the problem of discrimination against metis on the local arena is a problem that won't be solved soon. People are sour with the political-economical instability in Russia and they will aim their anger towards the “strangers” until the situation changes. The situation is worst in schools.

“In most cases in classes, the children who are physically and morally unfit,” says NI's judiciary director of the Moscow Bureau of Human Rights, Vladimir Novitski. “A metis will always be the minority, which is usually considered the weak enemy. With the advent of xenophobia some teachers also take out their aggression on the “stranger” kids, changing the stronger objects of hate with weaker ones. In this way the dark skinned kid becomes an outcast. According to us the only way to cure xenophobia within the youth is to have a program on tolerance in kindergartens. The existing projects have not produced the required results up to now. But we will keep on hoping that soon or later Russians will - at long last - have tolerance in relation to people from other nationalities and with different skin color.”


METIS ANNUAL REPORT


How METIS Helped Children and Families in 2004-2005


Fifty-four children aged 6-18 attended foreign language and computer classes, and art classes.

Beds for children were provided to six metis families.

One family with four children received a refrigerator and sofa.

Eight families received computers: processors and monitors.

Three families received monitors.

Used clothing and shoes were provided for each METIS family three times per year.

Two hundred food pack. were distributed by United Way (until March 2005) and MPC during this time, except summer.

New clothes were provided to children of Metis families in greatest need.

Support and presents were given to children who had been attacked and hurt by skinheads.

Food packages and office supplies and equipment were provided to the METIS Foundation in Ryazan'.

Fifteen children enjoyed a boat trip.

Children visited the theater and circus.

Ethnic gatherings were organized monthly for moral support.

One computer was provided to each of the new METIS offices in Ryazan and Tula.

Twenty-five tickets to the AmCham 4th of July Celebration were distributed, courtesy of United Technologies.

METIS children attended British International School celebrations (twice a year).

Children received ongoing donations (books, clothing, money).

And many other things, too difficult to enumerate, were accomplished by us to assist metis children.


VIOLENCE AGAINST AFRO-RUSSIAN CHILDREN INCREASES

Violence against Afro-Russians is on the rise. Sadly, even children are not immune from racial incidents. In recent months, there have been a number of attacks on our metis children. At least seven of them have recently been beaten by racists.

Oxford Ebem, 9 years old, was beaten on the street by a Russian girl in September. Not one person passing by came to his assistance. Ebem spent a month in the hospital. That same month, another 9-year old, Gibe Kaba, was also beaten by a group of Russians near his house. Gibe spent several weeks in the hospital.

In another incident, 16-year old Christiana Kobshosk was beaten by a group of Russians girls as she was waiting at a bus stop in October.

An absolutely appalling case occurred when Michael Filnadish, 8 years old, was beaten on the head by his teacher. Michael's injuries were so serious that he also was admitted to the hospital. Thanks to intervention by METIS, the teacher was reprimanded by the Ministry of Education. She apologized to Michael and his family.

For Igor Frolov the attacks are nothing new. This 19-year old has suffered many times at the hands of Russian racists, starting when he was a boy in school. Igor was beaten again shortly after the terrorist act in Beslan. Due to these constant beatings, Igor has become disabled.

Of course the attacks are not limited to Moscow and take place in other cities also. Seven year old Lima Johnson was beaten by teenagers from his school in Kaliningrad. Daved Naherna, an 8-year old from Ryazan, was beaten by a Russian man near his house. However, the METIS branch in Ryazan filed this case in court, and won. The guilty man has received a fine.

Although local authorities often discount racial motivations of such attacks, in the cases of all these beatings there is no other explanation. The attackers scream, “Negro, go home!" But these mixed-race children are Russian; this is their home.


SKINHEAD ATTACK RESULTS IN DEATH

It is with great sadness that Metis reports the death of Sekou Kaba, from injuries sustained in an assault by skinheads. Mr. Sekou, 22, spent several months in the hospital following his attack. He died in Moscow on April 5, leaving behind his mother and five younger siblings. His father, from Guinea, has abandoned the family.

Mr. Sekou's family is in need of financial assistance. If you can help in any way, please contact METIS.


ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL STUDENTS HELP OUT

A group of National Honor Society students from the Anglo-American School of Moscow (AAS) have begun a mutually beneficial relationship with METIS. These 11th- and 12th-graders have now attended two METIS gatherings, conducting fun activities with the children and helping prepare food packages for distribution.

“Our children have very much enjoyed the games that AAS students brought and played with them,” states Emilia Mensah, METIS President. The children also benefit in other ways from interaction with AAS students. Mensah continues, “We have noticed that AAS students have the experience to work with inter-racial children. They are free-minded and they teach our children to be the same. Once again, we want to thank the AAS students for.…supporting [our] children.”

The AAS students have also enjoyed their time with METIS. Lauren Eisenmenger, who has organized this group's work with METIS, notes they also benefit from their work with the METIS children, and says they look forward to continuing their relationship. BACK TO TOP


MEET METIS - A Staffer's Experience
By Alexander Preko

My name is Alexander Preko. I am a citizen of Ghana and a student at Moscow State University. I had the opportunity to work at the METIS fund through the Executive Director of United Way-Moscow, Ms. Tatiana Zadirako.

My experience with both organizations is proving very meaningful. At METIS I am gaining a better understanding of the problems faced by mixed-race children and their families. Well, METIS has existed for the past 6 years and we have some problems that we would like to share with our readers.

First and foremost is the lack of financial resources to run the organization. We have very little money available to offer programs and activities for the children. The lack of funds also hampers the charity's ability to function smoothly as an organization, with paid professional staff. For example, I receive only a $50 monthly stipend, supported by IWC [International Women's Club of Moscow]. We also need an office where the staff can easily carry out its day-to-day activities. At the moment we are located in the apartment of [METIS President] Emilia Mensah, which is not very convenient for her or for the staff members.

Nevertheless, we are helping roughly 300 children survive. We are trying to find sponsors to help them get a good education and feel free in Russian society. We also try to help their mothers, who don't have any support from their former husbands.

My best regards go to Emilia for accepting me to work with her. She is really committed to her work, and the love and affection that she has for these kids cannot be expressed.


CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AFRICANS TO RUSSIA

In each segment of this series we will introduce you to historically significant African-Americans and Africans and their contributions to Russia. This second article is about Robert Ross, an actor and humanitarian from the USA who worked on behalf of African-Americans in Russia.

Robert Ross was a black American actor. He arrived in the Soviet Union in the 1930's. Before WWII he became a Russian citizen. Robert had a family here, a Russian wife and two children. For this reason he did not want to leave during the war.

The Ross family had a difficult time, even after the war. They lived in Moscow, in only one room, and Robert had little money to support his family.

 

WOW... thanks. How thoughtful of you to post all of that for me.

I'll have to come back and read the rest of it when I have more time.

 

OK, I've read the whole thing now, and although I do wish Emilia and her organization the best of luck, I'll be damned if I would do anything for Russia, and that includes ANYTHING.....



in short, good cause, good idea, good motivation, but, a very bad location.

 

Similar efforts are underway in Romania.

A web search for "black Romanians" should take you to a website detailing the plight of the 1,000 or so Romanians of African descent and the formation of a organization to address their needs.

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BLACK ROMANIANS MAKING A WAY FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR HOMELAND

By CHUCK TODARO

May 8, 2002

You ask Americans what they know about Romania and nine times out of ten it's Dracula, Communist dictator Ceausescu or the angelic Nadia Comaneci, but what even fewer are aware of, and that sometimes includes Romanians themselves, is that in this historically "white" country a young black community is beginning to stand up and take notice.....

There are an estimated 1000 of these young Romanian blacks spread across the country. The majority reside in the cities particularly the capital Bucharest where they can be infrequently spotted on the bus or in the streets turning heads as they pass.

The stares are so common that the good-humored Dana Lukusa no longer takes notice. "It's if they don't look that I wonder why."

The genesis of these Romanian blacks goes back to the early 1970's and 80's when the Communist government began allowing African students to enroll in their universities. Relationships formed between these students who were predominately males and Romanian women. However since marriage with foreigners during the Communist era was strictly forbidden, as well as abortions, their offsprings were left to be raised by single mothers, grandparents or Romania's already peaked orphanage system.

Outside of the capital they are viewed as an oddity. "When I was in the city Satu Mare," says Andrea Nica. "You know how they looked at me? - Like an alien. I swear. And when I speak Romanian - they say Wow, you speak very good Romanian, where you learn?"

Cristian Handragel, who they call "Harry" because of his slight resemblance to Harry Belafonte, will never forget a visit to the northern city of Suceava where he was mobbed by a crowd of curious onlookers wondering who he was and why he looked so dark.

They live generally isolated lives, deeply stigmatized by their complexion. "The thing I remember in High School was that all the other girls had boyfriends, but no one would go out with me cause I was mulatto."

"Though it is better now than during Communism," says Andrea Nica. "I had allot of problems when I was in school. They used to say, go back where you come from. But where else am I supposed to go? - I am Romanian!"

Today the Mulatto Association in Bucharest is beginning to bring them together (Elise_AMR@yahoo.com). "This is the goal of our association so that they can meet others like themselves and realize that they are not the only ones," says Elisabeta Parvu, the association founder and single mother of a black girl.

Though Andrea Nica was forced to change five schools in an effort to escape prejudice she never met another black person like herself till age 18 when she bumped into Ms Parvu's daughter. "It was definitely a turning point in my life," Andrea says.

Their meeting hall is Ms. Parvu's dining room. It is a cheery, colorful room where the large opened windows are shaded by a wall of green plants and flowers. The association is more like a club than anything political. It is a "safe house" where any of 300 members are welcome and visit quite regularly to talk, to eat, and watch television. Ms. Parvu doesn't consider herself as founder or president of the association but rather as a mother to all of them.

"She makes great pickles," chimes in Dana Lukusa. "You are always sure to get something to eat here." Which can be quite meaningful as many of these young people, especially those born out of the orphanages live a general hand to mouth existence.

Other objectives of the Mulatto Association are to unify the Romanian black community and help support those in most need. One of the Associations greatest concerns are those who were abandoned and left in the care of the doubly harsh settings of the Romanian orphanage system. The Mulatto Association has 20 members who live in the orphanage system. They learned of the association from Ms Parvu's appearance on talk shows and the news. The total number of black Romanians in the orphanages is unknown but Ms. Parvu estimates it to be into the hundreds.

Combating prejudice ugly head is yet another major goal of the association. Though prejudice in Romania is something that is often denied by its officials - it exist here not unlike any other part of the world.

"There was a famous Romanian journalist who once said to me, 'there is no racial hate in Romania'," says Elisabeta Parvu. "I was very angry that he said this and I invited him to walk out in the street with me behind a group of mulatto and he will see that they are shouted at and called names. He wouldn't believe me and refused to see for himself."

The Romanian blacks know all to well the pain of prejudice. They have been heckled in the streets, even spit at. They are called "ciora" (crow) and their mothers called prostitutes.

"What happens allot now is after a long stare I am asked where I am from," says Dana Lukusa. "'Oh so your a Romanian,' they say. 'Your mother is from here - right?' There is the general knowledge that only Romanian women marry black men and they say it with a double meaning indicating your mother is a whore... But generally I try and ignore it."

Ignoring it during the '89 revolution was impossible for Dana when she was dragged off a bus because of her darker than average skin. She was accused of being a terrorist and threatened to be shot. Somehow she managed to convince them but came inches away from ending up just one of 1000 people murdered during those ten days of violence.

For the new generation of black Romanian's life is more secure. Prejudice reactions towards nine-year-old Idrees Hassan, whose parents met and married after 1989, existed only on his very first days of school. But according to Idrees that once they got to know him they became best friends and he no longer has problems.

Also to Idrees advantage is the extraordinary high rate of media exposure and success of Romanian blacks. They are no longer just a passing blur along the boulevard, but rather making daily visits in living rooms across the nation. They are coming out in a big way - with a Saturday night variety show hosted by two black Romanians, a popular morning newscaster, they are seen on the Romanian music channel as a V.J. and singers, they are top Romanian models, soccer stars and authors.

They are young and below the age of 30. They are exceeding their peers and becoming fast role models for the entire nation. Slowly, they are conquering this "alien" stereotype thrust upon them and in sense - conquering Romania

 

I, on the contrary, decided to help. Because if I don't, who will.

 

It's safe for you to help them and travel there.

 

True. I'm not traveling though. Just making a donation. Anyway, I feel that for my husband and me, as an Afro-Russian couple, it would be the right thing to do. I would imagine an outsider wouldn't be as concerned.

And damn, nasty comments don't need to be made. You can donate or not donate, it's up to you, but announcing to the world that you're NOT going to help this lady out - ?

 

I wasn't making nasty comments, nor announcing anything to the world. I was just giving my feedback on it, and as a Russian, I can see how you would want to donate, but I don't. My opinion still stands on that.