Identity and Belonging: Racism and Ethnicity

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Racism is a type of discrimination against individuals based on their skin color. Race refers to physical characteristics like skin color or certain facial features that are used to group people together based on perceived similarities. Racism is related to ethnicity in that it is a kind of discrimination based on ethnic differences. There are numerous examples of racist behaviors and attitudes in different parts of the world. The documentary Afro-German- Being Black and German gives enough evidence concerning the racism prevalence in the world. Race negatively impacts individuals’ relations in the world, although many countries, such as Germany, are working towards ending racism and ethnicity.

Race can influence identity and belonging experiences in many ways. For instance, people of color often experience racism and discrimination based on their skin color identity, which can lead to a feeling of not belonging or not being accepted by society (Comaroff and Comaroff, 2009). Additionally, racial minorities may feel a sense of belonging within their racial group due to the shared experience of discrimination and racism (Huppatz et al., 2016). Lastly, people’s experiences with race can also vary depending on their personal history and intersectional identities.

Afro Germany – Being Black and German provides some interesting insights into how race can influence identity and experiences of belonging. The documentary follows the lives of several black Germans, who share their experiences of growing up in a country where they are a minority racial group. Some discuss how they have felt marginalized and excluded from mainstream German society. According to Kilomba (2017), the narrator holds that when she was thirteen years, she would go to parties listening to white-artist songs. While enjoying the songs, her white friends would insist she was black and ought to listen to black music at 00:05:20. Conversely, some found ways to assimilate and feel more connected to Germany at 00: 04: 30 of the documentary. The interviewee explains that he defended himself to be having curly hair to be perceived as white.

It is known that race is a major factor in shaping both individual and group identity. It can play a role in everything from what names people choose for themselves and children to where people feel most comfortable living and working. While some people may view race as simply a matter of physical appearance, it is much more than physical (Bauman, 2009). For many black people living in countries like Germany, their experience of belonging is often shaped by the racism they face daily. In the documentary Afro Germany – Being Black and German, several individuals share their stories of feeling mistreated and excluded because of their skin color. Kilomba (2017) showed that Issa Barra, a black man from Burkina Faso, felt humiliated when a white man addressed him as “look at this black piece of trash” (00: 23: 49). The white person proceeded to hit Barra in the stomach severally; leading to Barra’s health complication of coughing blood for the entire month.

Moreover, apart from the painful physical assault, Barra also received threats from some whites. As Kilomba (2017) explained, Barra reported that he had received death threats and summoning, instructing him to return to where he came from (00: 24: 57). Similarly, blacks in Germany discuss how race influences their identity and experiences of belonging. Many of them feel unwelcome in Germany and discouraged from marrying white women. According to Kilomba (2017), many white reacted negatively when the male blacks started marrying white women, claiming that they were taking away their women (00: 08: 33). Some have even experienced racism from family members or friends. Though they were German citizens, they felt like outsiders in their own country; this is just one example of how race can influence someone’s identity and sense of belonging. Everyone experiences this to some extent, but it is especially pronounced for minorities. For blacks living in a majority white country, like Germany, it can be especially difficult to find a sense of belonging.

The conceptions of race have changed dramatically over time in Germany. In the past, the racial theory was used to legitimize slavery and colonization, as well as to justify various forms of discrimination and violence against minority groups. Today, most people in Germany reject racial theory entirely, viewing it as a pseudo-scientific concept that has been used to justify horrific crimes throughout history (Wigger, 2019). Wigger adds that race discussions were once common in German society but have become much less so in recent years. This is partly because many Germans think it is time to eradicate racial issues.

There are several reasons why Germans need to move beyond racial divisions to create a more just and equal society. First, Germany has a long history of racism and discrimination against minorities, particularly against people of color. This history has left many people feeling excluded and marginalized, making it difficult for them to trust the government or institutions. Second, the economic recession in recent years has hit minorities hard, exacerbating existing disparities (Cianetti, 2018). Finally, the rise of right-wing populism and xenophobia in other parts of Europe and the world has created a climate of fear and uncertainty, which has only highlighted Germany’s deficiencies in confronting its past.

The Germans have long been fighting to eradicate racism in order to ensure fair treatment of everyone, regardless of their skin color. In the early 20th century, the Nazi party rose to power in Germany and began implementing policies of racial segregation and discrimination against the Jewish population as well as other minorities. Gaudenzi (2021) stated that, after World War II, the Germans made a concerted effort to come to terms with their past and make amends for the atrocities committed during the Nazi regime. One important step in this process was the recognition of racism as an underlying cause of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity in Germany. Today, Germany remains a leader in the fight against racism and bigotry, promoting diversity and inclusion through education and public policy initiatives.

In conclusion, race can influence one’s identity and experiences of belonging. This is especially true for people of color who live in a white-dominated society. In Germany, for example, people of color often feel isolated and do not always feel like they belong, despite being born or raised in the country. The conceptions of race in Germany have undergone a dramatic transformation in the past century. From the early days of the Nazi regime to the present, Germans have contended with their history of racism and discrimination against minority groups.

Reference List

Bauman, Z., (2009). ‘Identity in the globalizing world’ in Elliott, A. & du Gay, P. (eds) Identity in question, Sage: Thousand Oaks.

Cianetti, L., (2018). Trickle‐down social inclusion: the EU minorities agenda in times of crisis. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 56(4), pp.785-801. Web.

Comaroff, J.L. and Comaroff, J., (2009). Ethnicity, inc. University of Chicago Press.

Gaudenzi, B., (2021). The ‘Return of Beauty’? the politics of restitution of Nazi-looted art in italy, the federal republic of Germany and Austria, 1945-1998.European Review of History: Revue Européenne D’histoire, 28(2), pp.323-346. Web.

Huppatz, K., Hawkins, M., & Matthews, A., (2016). Identity and belonging. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

Kilomba, G., (2017). Afro Germany – being black and German | DW Documentary. YouTube. Web.

Wigger, I., (2019). Anti-Muslim racism and the racialisation of sexual violence: ‘intersectional stereotyping’ in mass media representations of male Muslim migrants in Germany.Culture and Religion, 20(3), pp.248-271. Web.

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Identity and Belonging: Racism and Ethnicity

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