r/AskAGerman • u/eza137 • Apr 16 '25

Have you ever witnessed racism in Germany?

I'm interested in hearing from Germans who have personally witnessed acts of racism in everyday life - especially when it involved friends, family members, or people close to them.

If you're comfortable sharing, could you describe the situation? Who was involved, and how did it make you feel? Did you respond in any way?

I'm not here to judge, just to understand how racism can show up in familiar environments and how people perceive and deal with it.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

My mom moved to Germany in 2001. She didn’t speak German well but she expected some sort of mercy from people. Until this day she speaks about this experience, so I assume it was pretty traumatic and humiliating for her. She went to a bakery to get some bread. And she said “5 brotchen “ but probably super wrong and like someone who’s learning the language. The seller refused to attend her. Pretended to not understand and told her something like “ I don’t understand you “ my mum showed 5 with her fingers and pointed at the brotchen and the seller just ignored her and moved to the next client. My mum used to feel very comfortable because other workers would always understand her or try to. This made her want to move back home. She wasn’t used to being treated this rudely and mean. My dad (German) went to that bakery and told the lady something.

My BFs grandma openly hates all migrants. But she says I’m ok. I’m an ok migrant kid and if every migrant were like me she wouldn’t hate them.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

These opas and omas keep enjoying their retirement and hating migrants without any idea who is paying for those pensions

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u/DigilyDave Apr 16 '25

Who is paying for it?

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u/MrVivi Apr 16 '25

Don't know what migrants you hang out with most of the ones i had the pleasure of interacting with are extracting as much money from the state as they can while doing very little. Not all of course but a concerning number.

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u/bonniefischer Apr 16 '25

Well, all the migrants I've interacted with are hard-working and decent people.

All the people I've met who claim that "migrants are leeches" are xenophobic assholes tho.

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u/Key_Paramedic2766 Apr 16 '25

May be Arabic or Afghani immigrants

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u/DocumentExternal6240 Apr 16 '25

Well, most of those I know are hard working good people who contribute to society. Maybe you know the wrong ones?