Racism persists despite Germany’s “Wilkommenskultur”

Racism in Germany is more common than we think. It often happens when we aren’t even thinking about it. For example, when we make jokes with our friends. But how do the people that experience this racism feel about it, and how can we get beyond this daily racism?

People naturally have different ethnic backgrounds, skin colors, hair structures, etc. Even in a relatively heterogenous society like Germany, these differences are apparent. But how do ethnic and racial minorities feel in a country like Germany, known in the last few years for its welcoming refugee policy?

The book from Alice Hasters, “Was weisse Menschen nicht über Rasssimus hören wollen aber wissen sollten,” is one of the best showcases for this topic. She shares about the many microagressions she experiences daily, namely because she has a different skin color.

Alice Hasters is a German author, born in Cologne, Germany. Her mother was born in America (what we call “black”) and her dad in Germany (“white”). Alice identifies as German and could be considered “lightskin”.

In her book, she tells us a lot about how casual racism is in Germany, how normalized little racist statements sound as well as how racist tendencies are tolerated.

Phrases like: “May I please touch your hair?” and “But where are you really from?”

In her podcast, Hasters tells how she is often asked the question: “where are you from?”

She answers simply, “I am from Germany.” People often ask a follow-up question: “no, I mean, where are you really from?”

People often assume her father is black, less often that her mom is black. The stereotype is that black men date white women, but that black women don’t date white men. The question arises: “where does your father come from?” but rarely: “where does your mother come from?”

When she says, “I am from America,” the people always respond: “you mean South America or Africa,” or even, “do you have other relatives from somewhere else?”

People of color and those with a migration background are seen as something exotic, even though Germany has all kinds of people.

Here is where the “little” racism Hasters is talking about starts. Why is it thought that “non-white” people are different from the norm? Why do some think that people with different skin colors aren’t as “normal” as they are? A person’s appearance has little to do with their character.

We have to make clear that even people who don´t “mean it like that,” have to stop with the good intention’s argument. Intention is different than impact. Making others feel abnormal or not a part of “normal society” is damaging. These microagressions go against the “Gleichbehandlungsgesetzt” in Germany, at least people of color experience “Gleichbehandlung” differently.

We have to work on ourselves and our actions, so that people can feel normal in their own country. It can start by asking a simple question: “Should I really say that comment, or can I just leave it?” This is something everyone should think about before they speak.