Quotes from the Book

“In Germany the state of intelligence about the faces of racism and the majority population’s role in it is still very, very weak.”

“If you want to believe German media, racism exclusively exists somewhere else: in South Africa, the US, France. In Germany, there is no ‘racism,’ among other reasons because all Germans are white. Quite convenient, but a lie.”

“I’m writing about racism targeted at Black people, because I know what I’m talking about. To be very clear: Racism doesn’t deal with discrimination initiated by communication issues or ‘foreign’ culture. Black does not equal migrant or the other way around. That racism has nothing to do with ‘being foreign’ is exemplified by the fact that Black Germans are affected by these forms of discrimination.”

“If assumed that attacks on Black Germans are generally xenophobic, one unintentionally makes the mistake of communicating that Black people automatically cannot be Germans [...] and also denies that racism is the basis in the specific case.”

“Recent studies clearly prove that society is thoroughly pervaded by right wing extreme, racist, and antidemocratic sentiment. In the end people walk the streets ‘against Nazis,’ but still don’t react to racist tendencies outside the boundaries of organized political frameworks: in everyday German life.”

“Obviously not even the ‘intelligentsia’ feels it necessary to be informed about the faces of racism in their own country.”

“General knowledge of white Germans about racism is somewhat comparable with the state of male ‘knowledge’ about the roles and treatment of women around 1850.”

“Every form of racism is violence.”

“Racism and sexism sadly are related and often enough go hand in hand.”

“The Germans would like to get rid of racism as well (at least not be accused of it any more). But most Germans don’t take it that seriously and don’t admit that they have never really looked into the subject with its various forms.”

“It is not our fault that we have been taught so much racist crap. But we can get rid of it now. This is going to be work and will often be painful and unpleasant. But for our own sake and for the sake of future generations I wish that this work be done now.”