I am sad to admit, but I am now working on an evacuation plan to leave Kyiv and packing my things just in case I have to go. I don't care how you view this situation, just know I am really worried about my friends and family because the threat of a Russian attack is very real.
This isn't a game for me.
There are thousands of Black people who live here and aren't able to leave as easily as I am because they don't have paperwork to go to nearby E.U. countries. I am writing a story about this now, but just know this is very personal to me.
I don't have anymore time to tweet now. Gotta go pack and make plans. I am praying for a deescalation, but only Putin can control that. And that devil doesn't pray to the same God I do, so I'm proceeding with caution. I'm fine, but worried for my loved ones. I'll keep you posted.
FYI: please do not be alarmed. I am only doing this evacuation plan *as a precaution.* Calling certain family in the U.S. to keep them aware. In case something happens I will be ready. But I am still planning on staying here in Ukraine.
I'm not going anywhere at the moment and am still making plans for the week.I got Russian class tomorrow, hot yoga in the a.m. (instructed in Russian), more writing about Ukraine and meeting friends tonight. If Ukrainians can keep it moving, so can I.
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I'm gonna explain why the progressive call for diplomacy on Ukraine is hollow, lacking in facts, and devoid of context by introducing you to a piece of diplomacy that was supposed to prevent this Russian-made crisis from happening.
Thread.
My thesis is simple: Diplomacy often doesn't work because a. one or all sides is a bad actor (Putin) b. the promises (treaties, memorandums, etc) are broken (i.e Minsk I, II)c. the diplomatic effort was flawed from the jump and this takes me to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
After the fall of the USSR, Ukraine had the 3rd-biggest nuclear stockpile in the world, as they we left over from the USSR. Ukrainian leadership at the time believed that Moscow still wanted to invade them and they were right. Duma officials were discussing such a possibility.
One chapter in my book explores my own growing experience and mistakes I've made about Jewish people and one thing I touch on is that there is a difference between someone who is ignorant of a subject and holding antisemetic views.
I've run into Ukrainians who have said the most ignorant shit about Black folks, but the majority of it was not intended to be harmful. I am HUGE on intentions. I am not one of those, "It's not intent, it's impact" people. We really need to start extending each other more grace
I don’t disagree with the spirit of @RepBarbaraLee and @RepJayapal’s statement to avoid war with Russia, but the framing ignores that Moscow is the aggressor and that NATO is involved because Russia has long threatened many of the alliance’s ex-ussr and satellite members.
Furthermore, @RepBarbaraLee and @RepJayapal’s statement makes very legit fears of military expansionism while ignoring that people here are terrified of Russia (which already invaded and is occupying much of the country) and progressives lack a moral stance against it.
Also, the fundamental flaw with @RepBarbaraLee and @RepJayapal’s statement is that they offer no solutions to how to address Russia when diplomacy fails; also, Russia is escalating the issue, not NATO and I hate military organizations.
1. OK. Let's counter that.
What is the progressive message against Putin?
Mine: sanction the shit out of him and his inner circle. Make it harder for them to drill for natural resources. Clean up US loopholes that make it easy for Russian oligarchs to hide money.
2. Cut off Russia from major financial organizations with a focus on oligarchs. Cut off visas, banks, seize property, etc. Make the oligarchs who steal from Russia LIVE IN RUSSIA. Support Russian language media that counters RT and Russian state TV.
3. increase NATO exercises with Ukraine and other states who CHOOSE a western orientation. NONE of this requires sending U.S. troops to Ukraine (which was never a consideration to begin with).
I have some thoughts about how progressives should understand what is happening in Ukraine.I am concerned progressives are comparing U.S. intervention in Iraq to Russia and the two are very different scenarios. I say this as a progressive and expert of this region.
Thread.
I see tweets from progressives saying the U.S. should not give weapons to Ukraine and that the NATO response could mean U.S. troops fighting Russia over Ukraine and that this is Iraq 2.0. Nothing could be further from the truth.
For one, in 2001, Iraq wasn't an aggressive state, certainly no threat to the U.S. Unsubstantiated claims about WMDs were made and oil was the primary factor. Also, America has a poor history in the Middle East as an aggressor. All true.
I'm so busy in Ukraine that I have little time for anything else, but I do wanna reflect on this Gawker piece about The Root, my former place of employment. I was mentioned, but choose not to comment.
I will not comment on the contents of the piece because its not essential for what I am gonna say. So...
The Root was the best place I ever worked because @daniellecbelton it a safe place for every type of Black person, no matter how we identified and how we viewed the world.
Before I worked The Root, I was at Jalopnik writing about the military and national security. I loved the work, but needed a change and Danielle welcomed my knowledge and reporting experience. She immediately put me on the road covering national races.