Racism in Germany | DW Documentary

"I was born in Germany. German is my mother tongue. I was in Africa just once in my life - on a package holiday,” says Konrad Erben, a student in Jena. Nevertheless, many people insist Erben can’t be German because he is Black. But Afro-Germans have been living in Germany for a long time. Hundreds came from German colonies during the Imperial period. Some appeared in spectacles known as "Völkerschauen.” Others came to get an education. Mandenga Diek was the first African to become a German citizen in 1896. A successful salesman, he campaigned for civil rights with an organization called the "Afrikanischer Hilfsverein.” It marked the beginning of an organization for the Black community in Germany.

During the Nazi period, Afro-Germans were misused in propaganda films. For example, they played alongside Heinz Rühmann in the film "Quax in Africa.” Many were also subject to forced sterilization and imprisoned in concentration camps. After World War II, black US troops had relationships with German women in occupied Germany. Their children were put up for adoption in the United States. Those who remained were marginalized by racists daily. A former member of the German national soccer team, Erwin Kostedde, recalls his experiences in this film. Gabriela Willbold became the first black child to attend school in Cottbus. She took the anti-racist assertions of Communist East Germany literally and refused to tolerate any discrimination.

In "Black and German,” four generations of men and women speak of their moving, rousing and proud history. This documentary is about racism, survival and self-empowerment.

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[TheAaronJP]

I am mixed race British jamaican. I spent 12 years in Germany. Once I got stopped by the police on the street and they said I look suspicious. Funny e ough, the first thing they asked me was whether I speak German. Then they refused to believe that my name was Aaron as it did not fit my appearance. They drove me home, checked my apartment, then reviewed my documents. No apology and they just left. It was the day I felt like something was wrong with me and the day I decided to move home to the UK as the racism was just too frequent. I appreciate the education I received there but I never felt fully welcome.

[kaheemkaheem]

Why are we hated by so many? Sad, as a retired American military veteran dealing with racism was the hardest thing in the military.

[InstructorMike]

This is very humbling and also a reality that some Black people don’t take into consideration that no matter where you go, our skin color gives us a card that we have to understand we always cause us to be treated differently. No matter where we go. It’s a card in the deck you have and it’s not going anywhere. So you learn how to play with the deck of cards that you have. The game may not be changed. You don’t control the game. But you do control how you play those cards in that game.

[francis-md]

Working as a Physician in Schleswig-Holstein for over 2 years was the hardest time of my career. I never faced racism from patients, but instead from my collegues who I have to prove again and again I was worth to be working there and many of them would do the impossible to prove everybody else it was wrong to have a black doctor in the hospital, not need to mention all the racist comments I had to hear over and over again...a daily battle just to do my job. At the end of the day I quit with the conviction that some places are not just ready to embrace something call diversity...

An anti racism movement is really needed in the North and East Germany

[uche]

I speak really good German and used to work as a cashier at a DM supermarket branch. Most people were nice to me but some people just hated me cos of the color of my skin. They wouldn’t let my hands touch theirs when they paid me and would tell me to keep their change on the table for them 😂. I don’t really care so much about this but it’s funny how stupid racism makes people .

Edit: Thanks for the support guys, it means a lot.

 For those saying it had nothing to do with racism rather germophobia.
I have been in the country long enough to know the difference.
The vibe alone will tell you that they hate you, cos even when you smile, greet and try your best to ignore how rudely they throw the money at you or speak to you when they are forced to address you, they still end up muttering under their breath how "you" foreigners are spoiling everything and are I know a racist encounter when I experience one. Like I said, the racist encounters are a minority though so I prefer to focus on the positive things that I've got in life :)

[henrydon]

The most painful part of racism in Germany is that you will experience it even in the university by professors that are supposed to know and do better. Its so painful and disgusting

[jaisbarbosa]

It's not just in Germany. You also have to deal with racism in Spain. It's really bad here. People look at you as if you are not welcome, you are called names like: you are a monkey, piece of dirt, etc... the police stop you because they think you are dealing with crime, but then they answer that they are busy with control, in the tram people don't want to sit next to you, but rather next to a non-black person, they expect you to step aside when they walk towards you. But I will not tolerate such behavior and I will speak up straight away and show them that they have the wrong one today! Here, for example, a white person from France/ukraine/the Netherlands (who does not speak a word of Spanish) is treated better than a black person who does speak Spanish. What will be the reason, do you think? 😉 There is definitely race categorization in Europe. I'M LIKE, I HAVE THE SAME RIGHT AS EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF MY SKIN COLOR. THIS IS HOW I SEE IT. I TACKLE HATE DIRECTLY. YOU DON'T GET ME SMALL BY YOUR HATE, JEALOUSY OR INSECURITY! A CERTAIN SKIN COLOR DEFINES NO ONE'S POSITION OF POWER OVER ANOTHER. THIS IS CREATED IN THE MIND FOR ALL HUMANITY.

[Marie-wdhp]

I have a nephew whom I lost contact with & he is a Black German. When I was communicating with him he spoke about how poorly he was treated because he was part Black. My brother who was in the military left his son behind. I wonder how I could go about trying to find him. This documentary bring back memories of him.

[Anrylla]

The fact that A GERMAN STATE FUNDED broadcaster talks about the issues in Germany on its international channels are simply mindblowing. Our state owned broadcasters in Turkey are just being a lackey of the current government. It will take us 1000 years to reach to this level regarding journalism.

[sagalimad]

I was born and raised in Sweden, but I'm not Swedish for that.
I am African from Somalia. My nationality is Swedish but my ethnicity is Somali.
It is important that you learn where you actually come from.

[tasneembashir]

They might be German by nationality, BUT they are not German by ethnicity.

Native Germans are white European. That's a fact.

There is nothing wrong with being of African descent. These people seem to be ashamed to be African. There is nothing wrong with someone showing interest in your ethnicity. It's not racist.

[henryymukasa_AfricanBoy]

This why I decided to stay in Africa. I don't know why some black people try cling themselves to people who don't love them.
If you are treated badly because you are black, just relocate down here in Africa. People will welcome you.

[yuree]

It’s terribly sad how far we have come in 2023 and still have not gotten anywhere ‼️

[ich]

The answer from the German lady about not giving her child for adoption was heartbreaking 💔. People can be so mean sometimes.

[missmrocks]

You can change your nationality, but you can't change your ethnicity.

Great documentary DW.

[selinab]

I lived in Norway for some time I experienced racism but am not the one to bully so I used to check them but It was a different story with my cousin she was bullied everyday at work she'd come back home cry and she d be afraid to go to work until I told her to stand up for herself and they stopped messing with her..never allow anybody to disrespect you ever!when they know they can break you the bullying continues .

[stephendavid]

DW is outstanding in their desire to grapple with difficult themes. Thank you for this timely documentary.

[sekoaib]

As Africans we need to fix our continent

[KJ-yises]

Isn’t that normal? If you are white or Asian looking living in Africa, wouldn’t you get the same questions from the locals because you are just out of place?

[Soupface]

What about racism towards Germans by minorities living in their country?