F--k Off, Russian Warship
This Post Features Photos of Protests in Riga, Latvia in front of the Russian Embassy (special thanks to Corina Apostol for sending).
In this post: Photos of Protests in Riga, Latvia in front of the Russian Embassy, updates on Russian adcance, and what I'm re-reading.
Last week: I want to express my love for Black cultures and bell hooks’ writing on teaching, love, and life.
Next week: Not Safe for School is back from a quick mental health/spring break hiatus, and we're taking no prisoners.
Hi folks,
At the time of sending this, Russian troops advance in a 40-mile (60km) long convoy towards Kyiv.
Black and brown people are being held at the Ukrainian border out of sheer racism.
As a photo historian, I resist the urge to say a photo is worth a thousand words, because this one is worth exactly negative 1,000 fucks to give.
Western news outlets express far more shock and outrage at this invasion of a "relatively civilized" nation (implying that nations with more melanin in their citizenry are not-- eyeroll to that please, considering this white-on-white violence going on up in here).
And in the U.S., Wyoming voted to stop funding the Women's and Gender Studies department from their state university, and Republicans who once thrived under McCarthy-like witch-hunts of "commies" are now praising Putin (not just the cheetoh). (obligatory Handmaid's Tale reference: I do not look good in red, so here's hoping we offer a swift corrective).
IDK about y'all but this is some fucked up shit.
Protesters in Riga, Latvia in front of the Russian Embassy over the weekend.
It felt entirely inappropriate to send out a newsletter today about anything other than extending empathy to those who hail from war-torn and/or Soviet-ravaged places.
A Romanian friend of mine texted me:
"It's very strange to be living through this. No one thought the Cold War days would return, where you have to live under threat."
So take care of ya friends, take care of ya family, and take care of yourself. Practice extreme empathy, patience, and love to counter all this hate.
What I'm (re)reading:
Anne Applebaum's latest book, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, examines how some of the western world's brightest examples of democratic success stories have descended into far-right autocracy. She explores the rise of populist figures like Viktor Orban in Hungary, Donald Trump in the U.S., and her own former friend and colleague, Boris Johnson in the UK. Read more about the book here.
Protest signs in Riga, Latvia.
In solidarity with freedom fighters everywhere,
Allison
NSFS: Not Safe for School, your snark-filled antidote to racism and corruption in education. Follow @postphdtheblog on Twitter and @allisonharbin_postphd on Instagram