"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 AfroGermans 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, AfroGermans 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 antiracist 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 selfempowerment.

#documentary #dwdocumentary
______

DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.

Subscribe to:
⮞ DW Documentary (English):    / dwdocumentary  
⮞ DW Documental (Spanish):    / dwdocumental  
⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic):    / dwdocarabia  
⮞ DW Doku (German):    / dwdoku  
⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi):    / dwdochindi  

For more visit: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s3610
Follow DW Documentary on Instagram:   / dwdocumentary  
Follow DW Documental on Facebook:   / dwdocumental  

We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G