Posted on Apr 29, 2022
In Kansas City, Russians face competing pressures to respond to conflict in Ukraine
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Many fear backlash from Russia if they speak out against war — but silence could mean harassment here at home.
When Jane Romanova-Hrenchir’s three kids were in elementary school three years ago, she was surprised by what they told her one day after class.
“They were coming home saying 'I don't wanna speak Russian.' And I said, ‘Why? It's, you know, it's your heritage.’”
That was in 2019, before the current invasion of Ukraine. Romanova-Hrenchir immigrated from Kazan, Russia in 2005 with her American husband. She still has family in Russia — some who don’t speak English.
Even back then, her kids said, “Our classmates don't like that we are Russian." The incident took Romanova-Hrenchir aback.
When Jane Romanova-Hrenchir’s three kids were in elementary school three years ago, she was surprised by what they told her one day after class.
“They were coming home saying 'I don't wanna speak Russian.' And I said, ‘Why? It's, you know, it's your heritage.’”
That was in 2019, before the current invasion of Ukraine. Romanova-Hrenchir immigrated from Kazan, Russia in 2005 with her American husband. She still has family in Russia — some who don’t speak English.
Even back then, her kids said, “Our classmates don't like that we are Russian." The incident took Romanova-Hrenchir aback.
In Kansas City, Russians face competing pressures to respond to conflict in Ukraine
Posted from kcur.org
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Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Russians in Kansas City walk a fine line
Jane Romanova-Hrenchir says music, language, and sports tutors in Kansas City have lost students because of their Russian nationality. A decrease in flights to Russia makes it expensive to visit sick relatives. She says people are stressed and scared.
“They're even afraid sometimes to admit that they are from Russia, because they're not quite sure what's gonna bring to their life afterwards.”
Romanova-Hrenchir was shocked by an April 13 editorial in the Kansas City Star, which called for Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov to “denounce Russian behavior before his performance” or else the Harriman-Jewell Series cancel his April 24th concert. Trifonov, who was born in Russia and now lives in New York City, posted on Instagram “It has been truly heartbreaking to witness what has been happening in the last days. Every war is a tragedy.”
The concert went on as planned. The Harriman-Jewell Series released a statement: “We respect Daniil Trifonov as an artist and have no intention of canceling his performance on the basis he was born in Russia. We do not discriminate against any artist based on sex, religion, or national origin.”
“It doesn't look like it's America anymore,” says Romanova-Hrenchir, “because they claim that they don't discriminate against the nationality, but what is this? If they mention a Russian-born pianist?”...
..."Russians in Kansas City walk a fine line
Jane Romanova-Hrenchir says music, language, and sports tutors in Kansas City have lost students because of their Russian nationality. A decrease in flights to Russia makes it expensive to visit sick relatives. She says people are stressed and scared.
“They're even afraid sometimes to admit that they are from Russia, because they're not quite sure what's gonna bring to their life afterwards.”
Romanova-Hrenchir was shocked by an April 13 editorial in the Kansas City Star, which called for Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov to “denounce Russian behavior before his performance” or else the Harriman-Jewell Series cancel his April 24th concert. Trifonov, who was born in Russia and now lives in New York City, posted on Instagram “It has been truly heartbreaking to witness what has been happening in the last days. Every war is a tragedy.”
The concert went on as planned. The Harriman-Jewell Series released a statement: “We respect Daniil Trifonov as an artist and have no intention of canceling his performance on the basis he was born in Russia. We do not discriminate against any artist based on sex, religion, or national origin.”
“It doesn't look like it's America anymore,” says Romanova-Hrenchir, “because they claim that they don't discriminate against the nationality, but what is this? If they mention a Russian-born pianist?”...
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