Obianma Onya, a Nigerian physician, has talked about her horrific early encounters with racism while residing in Russia, which was then a part of the USSR.
Obianma, a mother of three doctors, revealed that when she was five years old, her parents relocated to Moscow.
She remembered times when she was nicknamed a monkey by other kids due to her appearance.
She claims that after every event, she went home crying until her mother told her that being Black meant she was strong.
She later “stopped shrinking, faced her tiny tormentors squarely and fought back physically.”
She stressed the value of affirmative words as they support the development of positive self-image and self-esteem in her advice to parents whose kids are navigating difficult situations.
She posted it on her social media page, saying;
This little girl… about five years old, circa 1977.
Her name was Miss Obianma Nneka Ozokwo…
I had just started school in Moscow, former USSR. It wasn’t always easy as I was called “abizian” (Russian word for “monkey”) by my some children who tried to make me feel small because of how I looked. At first, I would go home in tears.
But my mother changed everything.
She told me, “You are Black, and that means you are strong.”
That truth settled deeply in me.
This was also the era of Muhammad Ali, strength, confidence, and unapologetic identity were in the air. I began to see myself differently. I stopped shrinking. I stood my ground. I refused to be intimidated. I fought back with fury…physically!
And something interesting happened, the bullying stopped.
Not only did I find my voice, I thrived. I excelled academically and consistently came top of my class. What started as a difficult experience became a defining one.
Looking back, I see a child who learned early that identity is power, confidence is learned, and strength is built.
To every child navigating tough spaces, and to every parent raising them, words matter. What you tell a child about who they are can shape how they face the world.
I am grateful for that foundation.
See the post below.
You may also like to read this;
https://thenewsnaija.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nigerian-culture-and-tradition/
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