NaDiRa short study: Experiences of racism in East Germany

Experiences with racism during the GDR, reunification and in today's East Germany

National Monitoring of Discrimination and Racism (NaDiRa)

Project head: Prof. Dr. Sabrina Zajak

Project team:

• Jeannette Gusko
• Kristina Kämpfer
• Abini Herzberg
• Thomas Prennig
• Johanna Wetzel
• Sabrina Zajak
• Kathleen Heft
• Daniel Kubiak

- - -

Project description:

The study investigates how Black people and People of Colour (BPoC) have experienced and are experiencing racism in the GDR and in contemporary East Germany. It contributes to understanding complex and intersectionally interwoven racisms in the late GDR and East Germany. In essence, we analyse what characterises the experience of racism in the former GDR and the East German Länder - and what it means for people affected by racism to have been socialised in the GDR.

Results:

For the research participants, experiences of racism in the late GDR stood above all in contrast to the proclaimed anti-racist state ideology. Those affected were thus confronted with a strong contrast between official anti-racism and "what people thought" or did. They experienced that state protection against racially motivated violence remained fragile.

During the Wende, the increasing racist violence led to a shift in entire lifeworlds: Black people and People of Colour increasingly moved to larger cities and so-called no-go areas emerged, some of which still exist today. In addition, for many people the fall of the Berlin Wall meant that they were no longer only marked as Black people or People of Colour, but also as East Germans in reunified Germany.

For the research participants, experiences of racism in the post-reunification period are characterised, on the one hand, by the fact that they share knowledge about the GDR times and the Wende experience with the people who act and speak in a racist manner. On the other hand, they now - out of their socialisation in the GDR - newly encountered West German discourses on race, racism and black identity. These triggered different reactions and experiences.

Surprising insights:

On the one hand, the comprehensive exodus of racialised people from the former territory of the GDR after 1989, which has left traces until today and culminated in the emergence of no-go areas, was surprising. On the other hand, it was remarkable for us that research participants who referred to a genuine East German identity did not recognise West German community organisations.

Significance for practice:

Our findings are of particular interest to advocacy and anti-racist counselling centres, as well as to journalists and contemporary historical institutions. The study provides knowledge about and an understanding of specific histories, experiences and perspectives of Black people and People of Colour (BPoC) in East Germany. These sometimes differ from West German perspectives and experiences of racism in (West) Germany.

The study also makes visible that BPoc who experience racism in the GDR and in East Germany are positioned as BPoC and East German at the same time.

Media reports:

Cornelia Geißler: Rassismus war in der DDR nicht vorgesehen. Interview with Abini Zöllner. Berliner Zeitung, No. 214, 15.09.2021 - page 15, (paywall). 

Short studies in preparation for the Racism Monitor:

In order to prepare a comprehensive racism monitor, DeZIM called on scholars* from the DeZIM research community in 2020 to develop innovative study ideas. These should extend existing research projects, pursue new and innovative approaches or build an infrastructure to research racism. By 2021, more than 120 researchers at the six locations of the DeZIM research community had conducted a total of 34 short studies. These are divided into six thematic priorities:

• Health system
• Education system and labour market
• Institutional racism
• Dealing with experiences of racism
• Participation and the media
• Racist ideologies and attitudes

Funding: Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Third-party funding)