They’re calling him the “Volgograd Obama.” Joachim Crima, 37, native of Guinea-Bissau, former watermelon seller, and graduate of Volgograd Pedagogical University has thrown his hat into the region’s municipal election. If elected, which is a long shot, Crima would become Russia’s first black elected official. “I was born in Africa, but I have lived in the district for 12 years and feel practically Russian. I have a son here and this is why I cannot be indifferent to the fate of the region,” he told the press. Crima, who has adopted the name Vasilii Ivanovich, promises “to toil like a negro” for his constituents. “I want to make the lives of people who I consider my compatriots better. I am ready to work from morning until evening to resolve their problems.” In fact, “Will toil like a negro” has become his election slogan.
Political commentators aren’t taking the African seriously and see his campaign as nothing more than “a product of pre-election tactic with the purpose of taking votes from the United Russia candidate.” “I think that this is a case of pure political exoticism” Alexander Strizoe told V1.ru. “I don’t rule out that several forces hope to take some of the votes away from United Russia by promoting a black candidate. However, I don’t think that there is a chance of victory. Our population is traditional. It only votes for its own kind. In order to win the support of our voters, it’s necessary to be a leader of public opinion. I don’t think it’s possible for a native of Guinea-Bissau to be the spokesman for the people’s aspirations.”
As for the racist overtones of the slogan “toil like a negro,” Gennady Shaikhullin, the chairman of the provincial electoral commission, sees “nothing that could treated as inflaming racial, religious, or any kind of hatred.” Shaikhullin thinks the slogan is of poor taste but the “context of this expression supposes that a person who promises to “toil like a negro” takes up the responsibility to work more and with greater intensity.”
I’m not sure how Crima will pull votes away from United Russia since naturally I can’t imagine Russians voting for an African enough to matter if his candidacy is indeed genuine. And if it is, I hope his presence at least rocks the political boat. Even if it’s just a little bit.
Nevertheless, some of the responses to the V1.ru article are noteworthy. They are a mixture of support, fascination, and flat out racism. Ilya Lezin says, “Our corrupt officials won’t allow a Afro-Russian into the government!” Another named Dok writes “Vasilli Ivanovich as he calls himself (I’ve known him for five years) is a good negro but as the head of the district???” Irinka says “A black with a high intellect. I’ve read that its even higher than a penguin.” Others, of course, are simply skeptical and even a bit disappointed by Crima’s “selling his soul.” On RUpor.info, one commentator writes, “Every summer this black sells watermelons not far from the city Volzhskii on the way to Srenaya Akhtuba. He’s legendary. All of Volgograd knows and loves him. And just imagine, you sold your soul to be a slave to political consultants. Vasia, Vasia . . .”
Some are impressed by his vow to “toil like a negro” if elected. Entrepreneur writes, “He used to work for me at the Voroshilov market as a loader! In general, he has a good education with the right world view. In regard to “toil like a negro” . . . he is really very hard working, especially after the birth of a child!! I happily support his ambition and wish him success!” Another, RVS writes, “In the Far East the Chinese are very hard-working, and so are our Negroes, so there’s nothing left for us but to guzzle tainted vodka, since we can’t work. Strange kind of love we have to all things foreign, comrades.” MaksimVI sums his views up quite simple, “Tolerance is evil. We say NO to blacks.”
I happen to share Sergei’s response to the racism on the forum. He writes in response to Irinka above, “I would express it differently: A black person of average intelligence is much higher that the typical visitor of Russian Internet forums.” And how.
I hope to one day sport my own “Volgograd Obama” T-shirt. Go Vasilii Ivanovich!
Thanks to Evgeny for the article.
In the Far East the Chinese are very hard-working, and so are our Negroes, so there's nothing left for us but to guzzle tainted vodka, since we can't work. Strange kind of love we have to all things foreign
I don’t understand what are the “structural changes”, so I don’t take that idea, so far.
This whole edifice of Putin’s power vertical (ГМК – Государственный монополистический капитализм по Ленину) needs to be torn down.
Customs is an integral part of the Russian State. Quite an important part of it too. It is one of the major mechanisms of redistribution of wealth in Russia. Taxation does not work nearly as well as customs. It provides a nice chunk of federal budget as well as feeds a tremendous amount of people. Just legal customs duties make almost everything I saw in Russia cost significantly more then in the US. Eg: $13,000 for customs duties for an imported new Nissan that costs about $20,000 in the US at a dealer. Add to this all the kickbacks and outright bribery built in into every single imported item that is sold in Russia.
My point is you can demonstrate until your nose bleeds (figuratively or otherwise) – the way Russian society is structured now, that customs behemoth is not going anywhere. It is too important to the state budget, it is too important to untold legions that feed off it, you are the only one screwed but we have already established that your problems are yours alone.
Cyrill:
“but we have already established that your problems are yours alone.”
Surely they are.
Cyrill:
I understand your “structural reforms”. You want to pay less. It’s understandable desire.
I do not have a claim to pay less. But why can’t I make the payment in easy and convenient form? Why can’t I just use my credit card for that, without filling countless documents?
And this simple claim, if implemented, would IMHO ease the situation.
@Evgeny,
This is quite fascinating. What is this “radical change”?
Sublime Oblivion:
2025 — collapse of attempts to build western-style Capitalism, and establishment of a different social system, that would possibly implement the Fourth Ethical System.
http://warrax.net/behavior/00.html
Of course, I don’t call you to take that stuff for granted. But it’s (for my view of a non-expert) an interesting sociological work. Even if it’s wrong, at least it’s fun enough to spend time to read it.
At least, the real virtue of this work is that it describes civilizational blocks on our planet in terms different from what everyone else does or did.
Not sure if you find this inspiring, but I enjoy rare concepts on grounds of pure aesthetics, like one can enjoy a rare work of art.
“In terms of the First Ethical System there’s essentially no property, because nobody owns anything specific.
In terms of the Second Ethical System property mostly belongs to the society. It’s individuals who own it, but these individuals are deprived of the freedom to manage it, i.e. they depend on the society.
In terms of the Third Ethical System property is mostly owned by individuals. They have a right to manage it the way they find proper.
And finally, in terms of the Fourth Ethical System property belongs to the society. But the very society and its derivative — the state — are defined through people’s property. The society performs the role of the owner and keeper of that property. So, in that final case it could be said (metaphorically of course) that property is owned by itself.”
In many places it’s utterly sound, but in some places it sounds really cryptic.
There are only four ethical systems?
By the way, shouldn’t he be “the Volograd first black person to run for mayor in the US” rather than “the Volgograd Obama”?
Chris von Doom:
Of course, it’s only a simple theory. It’s naive to believe it explains everything. But it may be read for amusement, though.
Chris von Doom:
Krylov’s theory operates with the following concepts:
There are four ethical systems, which provide fair behaviour. There are four “reduced” versions of them: for Third Ethical System it’s “All must behave the way I do”, and for the Fourth Ethical System it’s “If I don’t have anything, nobody can have it”. (In Krylov’s view, the current Russia’s system is the union of the Third System and the reduced version of the Fourth System.)
There are also two possible systems which are not ethical i.e. not fair: Krylov calls them parasitism (“nobody can treat me the way I treat them”) and aggression (“I can treat them the way they don’t treat me”).
The theory is based on simple mathematics. In this sense, it’s close to socionics. Although, it’s simpler than socionics and makes greater claims. It’s no wonder it’s not universally accepted, but if you like socionics, you’ll like this theory, too.
Chris von Doom:
For example, in terms of Krylov’s classification, the recent Clinton-Biden disagreement regarding Russia would be treated as the conflict of the Third Ethical System (Clinton) and the reduced version of the Third Ethical System (Biden).
But again, IMHO it’s only interesting as a fascinating theory.
Thanks, Evgeny, it was an interesting read. I liked his classification system and thoughts on barbarism, and the predictions do not seem to be wrong so far. That said:
I still can’t really vision what kind of political economy a society based on the fourth ethic will have. Would you venture a guess, Evgeny?
Sean I think my (two attempted) posts were being eaten up by your anti-spam.
OK, third time lucky? (Abridged version)
@Evgeny,
I liked the book (his classification system and discussion of barbarism), but I find it hard to envision what kind of political economy a nation following the fourth ethical system will have. Would you venture a guess?
It seems that the spammer didn’t like the Russian. Damn russophobe spammer!
I still can’t really vision what kind of political economy a society based on the fourth ethic will have. Would you venture a guess, Evgeny?
I would second this request. In particular, how does this 4th system differ from the Marxist system of “общественная собственность”? And furthermore, how would it avoid the same pitfall of allowing those charged with management (in widest sense possible, including planning) of public property from trading their decision making power for graft?
I understand your “structural reforms”. You want to pay less. It’s understandable desire.
It is only a part of it, Evgeny. But not always. Sometimes we have to pay a lot no matter what.
Here is a good example from an adjacent area of law enforcement. Sometime in late 1990-s, Russian visitors I interpreted in the US (meetings, conferences and such) began to come with Credit Cards and began looking for car rentals. Initially they were completely dumbfounded by my comments “do not even think of paying off a highway patrol officer in California” (Other states can be different). Their initial reaction always been: “We will give him enough, everyone is for sale! Capitalism, baby!” It took me a while to drill into their minds that a CHP officer retires at 55 with, say 85% of salary and full health insurance for himself and spouse and has maybe another 30 years to live and how much would these cocky Russians would need to give him so he would risk all of it. I have plenty examples on the subject.
Another side of the same thing is Americans complaining about over payed police. And my usual reaction is – they will get their money either way and you’d rather not be on a shakedown street.
As for the State Monopolism of Mr. Putin and Co., any monopoly limits choice. Freedom to me is a function of choice. The fewer monopolies there are, the more freedom I have and that usually translates to better service and less cost to me, the consumer.
To bring this back to the Volgograd Obama and at least some value of political correctness: the above also applies to cultural coercion. When culture unreasonably limits choice (electing a black or a gay in Russia now or a black or a gay in US 40 years ago) it acts like a monopoly and restricts freedom. Including freedom of those that do not want a black to be elected only because he is black. Political correctness in this case acts like a tool that allows individual to notice self-imposed “bigoted” restrictions that ultimately restrict his own choice.
Sublime Oblivion:
A good example, as I understand, would be Western enterprises, workers of which are owners of some its portion.
Krylovs thought of expanding that model for the whole society.
Krylov wrote that 1995 work with his mother, who died since that time.
Currently Krylov promotes views of a Russian ethnic nationalist. I.e., that’s not in the frame of that 1995 work. E.g., one of his recent writings is:
http://krylov.livejournal.com/1885350.html
Krylov thinks of establishing the Russian state as that of a single ethnic group, effectively speaking in favour of post-Soviet collapse of Russia.
I don’t accept Krylov’s modern view.
I’m a follower of a movement of “red bricks” (like “just another brick in the wall”), that doesn’t support ethnic nationalism. I think I shouldn’t risk of describing basics of the “red brick” movement here. You would rightfully think I’m provoking you while actually I don’t have such an intention.
Cyrill: Your last commentary (“Here is a good example…”) would be good at any Russian political blog or forum. Strange it is, but there is still insufficient information of how does the western capitalism really work. The idea that Western policemen have much to lose is not obvious!
Considering your PC comment, well. There is actually a handful of blacks in Russia. 99% of people here did not have personal contacts with blacks. “Blacks” are unlikely to win not to due to any sort of limitations. But because they are not known to the public. If they want to play a more significant social role, they need to be more socially active, and achieve good results. That would work, I guess.
Similar story about gays. I don’t mind voting for a gay, if he’s a good professional and doesn’t manifest his sexual issues. If I vote for a man, I don’t need to know who does he sleep with. What I want to know is that he’s a good expert. And there’s no cultural limitation in that respect.
“Strange it is, but there is still insufficient information of how does the western capitalism really work.”
To state the obvious, there is no one Western capitalism, but rather many different models, ranging from Mexico to Brazil to Switzerland to Japan.
And they don’t appear to work.
Chris Von Doom:
Of course. And Russian capitalism is some subset of the world capitalism.
But any way, there are too much myths yet. The knowledge of the work of real-life social systems is always precious.
There are many myths about the U.S., and a lack of clear view why what works does work, and what doesn’t work doesn’t.
Cyrill:
I translated your comment about U.S. police in Russian and posted to the ru_ment community:
http://community.livejournal.com/ru_ment/75585.html
If you wanted to be heard, it’s the best place — a community of Russia’s militia men.
I understand you would do it better, but I tried to retain the idea.
“And they don’t appear to work.”
For lo the peoples of Capitalea did turn away from the magic space ponies, and did make graven images unto the False God of the Marxist Obama. And the magic space ponies did punish them by visiting plagues of locusts and high levels of unemployment and bankruptcy upon their homes. Only Cyril was spared, for only did he, the wise man who knows not iniquity, keep faith in the magic space ponies to the end.
Why do you call Obama a Marxist? Obama’s administration is rife with magic space pony peddlers.
Very good translation, Evgeny, except for сраные россияне (cocky – заносчивые) and the first sentence (несмотря ни на что). Шмон to me is search, not shakedown.
Do not heed the seductive whispers of Secretary of States Twinklehoof Clovermane, for she is a fallen magic space poney who wishes only your destruction and to lead you away from the True Pony Path.
Well, so far capitalism works MUCH better than all the other alternatives. Of course, I prefer the more humane versions (such as the ones we find in Scandinavia) of it, but as far as I know there are no viable alternatives to the market system. Not that I’m particularly happy about it, but neither I’m particularly happy about biological evolution (a beautiful and fascinating process that is also mercilessly brutal.) It’s just as stupid to oppose the market system as it is to oppose evolution. Rather than ideologies (I have the feeling that Sean disagrees with me here) these two are impersonal processes that evolved through the ages. Just like we can try to ameliorate the impersonal aspects of evolution that cause so much misery (disease, pain, the inevitability of death, and so on), we can try to ameliorate the more brutal aspects of the market system (gross inequality, crushing poverty.) And such amelioration attempts are definitely worth our while: they are neither trivial nor insignificant.
I am Joachim Crima, I am black, I am Russian, and I am running for the Municipal District in my town Volgograd in Motherland Russia.
Follow me on my page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joachimcrima
Is this for real? Good Luck Joachim! I’m going to have to get a twitter account now, aren’t I?
So, how’s the watermelon crop on South Volga this year?
Candide, that was totally fucked up.
“It’s just as stupid to oppose the market system as it is to oppose evolution.”
Evolution is natural and unavoidable and the market system is neither. Many many (most) societies have not had a market-based economy.
How is it f’d-up to ask a watermelon farmer how his watermelons are doing?
@Evgeny,
Posted about Krylov’s last chapter – the part I was most impressed by – at Diasporas and Barbarians.