Thank you all for following my work on Ukraine, but I want to take this time to show you all that I am a very diverse writer. I cover foreign affairs AND domestic politics. Here are examples of my work.
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One of my favorite subjects to write about is nuclear weapons non-proliferation. Here, I write about the need to cut America's ICBMs in favor of relying on SLBMs.
I am in favor of banning nuclear weapons and have expertise in that subject.
I also have an interest in North Korea. I wrote how a military conflict in North Korea would trigger a massive refugee crisis. Again, I write from the perspective that U.S. policy towards Pyongyang must change and how we missed opportunities for peace.
Here is one of my favorite dispatches from the 2018 gubernatorial race in Georgia. theroot.com/stacey-abrams-…
Here I wrote a story about a Black female nurse running for a state house seat in Georgia back in 2018. theroot.com/a-nurse-aims-t…
In 2020, I interviewed Sen. Elizabeth Warren about why she feels capitalism can benefit Black people--if it is reformed. theroot.com/elizabeth-warr…
So I can pretty much write about anything. When you support my work, you are paying for someone who understands foreign affairs and international politics.
To ensure I am able to write about foreign affairs with my independent voice and improve my journalism, please support me financially below. Thank you!
1. Wednesday and Thursday, I'll host Spaces with grassroots orgs in Ukraine that Americans can support financially and other ways. Deets forthcoming.
2. By the end of the week, I'll have a spreadsheet of grassroots orgs.
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It is taking me time to verify that all orgs are legit and to organizer methods of donation payments that go *directly* to the organization. I WILL NOT TAKE A DIME in case anyone wants to play in my mentions.
Each week, I will host a grassroots org and hopefully link them with a U.S.-based org that can help them institutionally. This is taking a good amount of time, so work with me here. If you can DM me with good Ukrainian orgs to support, please do so.
Quick reaction: Reporting on Neo-Nazis in the Ukrainian military is overblown, reductive and a distraction. Keep in mind that American police and military forces are full of white nationalists, so we'd be disqualified from protecting ourselves if that were REALLY the issue here.
I'm really sick and tired of these bullshit stories discussing neo-nazis in the Ukrainian military. Yes, they are there, but is the military full of Nazis? Of course not. If you don't want to support Ukraine, just fuckin' say so and stop with these reaching-ass stories, please.
There is some genuine reporting on neo-nazi groups here, but the vast majority of it is ghettoizing Ukraine as a backwater nation unworthy of help. I'be run into Neo-nazies here who have threatened me, so I am not a fan. Also know these people don't represent Ukraine.
One reason I *think* many can't see Ukrainians as oppressed is because (and this is a WORKING THEORY) they see them as too white to be systemically abused or colonized to evoke sympathy.
We often don't see "white people" as oppressed and I wonder if that undermines the very real history of abuse Ukrainians experience at the hands of the Kremlin. Because Ukrainians unquestionably have an ongoing history of oppression in ways few in Europe have experienced.
Because what is happening to Ukrainians is clearly oppression. It is deeper than politics. I sense a hatred from Putin against Ukrainians. The Kremlin sees them as "Little brothers," but they are treated more like white trash.
For those of you who are asking why I am here, please know I understand it comes from a good place. But it is not productive. I feel extreme shame and guilt at the thought of leaving here when people I love can't. Please stop asking me to leave. I won't! I know the risks.
In American culture, we don't have language that explains bonds that are not blood, but are stronger than friendships. That is what I have in Ukraine. To say I simply have friends here doesn't describe the depth of my relationships here. I'm not abandoning that.
So, I am gonna share with you the main reason I do what I do in Ukraine. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and my first experience in this part of the world came via church-funded trip to Russia in 2001. No religious activity. Just funded by the UMC.
If you wanna bring up Azov battalion and the Ukrainian Nazi boogie man, note a. those folks are on the fringes of society here and b. Trump was elected president in 2016, 70+ million voted for him in 2020; U.S. law enforcement is a white nationalist paradise.
Back off Ukraine!
For those who will read my tweet in bad faith, know I recognize there is a white nationalist presence here and they have caused problems, but Azov is brought up to paint Ukraine as a white nationalist haven.
As a Black man who lives here, I can tell you that is 100% FALSE.
I have devoted my life to promoting this place. I have been in the deepest of mountains in Ukraine and 99.9 percent of my time here has been met with incredible kindness. Anyone who is claiming Ukraine is full of Azov and Nazis sympathizers don't live here.
I need financial support for my continued journalism in Ukraine to cover what is happening here and for continued coverage for the next two months. I need 15K.
If you can sent it to CashApp at $TerrellJStarr, I'd greatly appreciate it. Here's how I plan on using the $.
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I didn't plan on being here this long and I am not supported by anyone. I am here 100 percent on my own dime. Now, I need to funds to pay for housing (rent in Kyiv and wherever I go to cover what is happening, new gear to go into the field.
I need to pay myself as I host weekly episodes of Black Diplomats here in the field. That level of time and energy costs money and time. I have to pay a producer as well. I also need cash for upfront costs to pay freelance photographers who'll join me on assignments.