" Of all the big cities in the world where I've been, the Muscovites seemed to be the politest of people to strangers. But perhaps that was because we were Negroes, and, at that time, with the Scottsboro case on world-wide trial in the papers everywhere and especially in Russia, folks went out of their way to show us courtesy. On a crowded bus, nine times out if ten, some Russian would say, 'Negrochanski tovarish--Negro comrade--take my seat! "

― Langston Hughes , I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey