BTW as a derogatory epithet for someone of Caucasian nationality (or "chelovek kavkazskoi natsional'nosti") this word is of relatively recent coinage, going back as far as I know to the 60s and 70s when Caucasian shuttle traders started appearing in European Russia. Its use and the vituperance associated with it have increased as Caucasians move to the big cities, esp. Moscow, to work and and/or sell, and because of the very visible presence of Caucasians, esp. Chechens, Ajeris and Georgians, in the Mafia. And of course because of the war in Chechnya -- most Russians can't tell the difference between a Chechen, an Ingush and an Avar (I know I can't). One of my ex-girlfriends is Ingush, by the way (well, really half Ingush and the rest Russian Jew/Ukrainian -- everybody is multiracial here). My apartment is in a largely Caucasian neighborhood far from the center of Moscow, which I am reminded of all the time because the shop sellers always say I have a cool accent and ask me what my natsional'nost' is, which no one would ever do in the tourist-friendly Moscow center.
Most Russians have never seen an African, except on TV. You see them in Moscow, but they do stand out in a crowd!
One group appears to have been exempted from chyornyi-hood: Armenians. Everybody loves Armenians. Maybe because they're Christian (which doesn't save the Georgians)? Or because they tend to be so incredibly good-looking? Great people, but woe unto thee if you look at one of their women the wrong way, you might get a shiv stuck between your ribs.
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