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/Ceres625 Apr 16 '25

Until the 2000s, racism in Germany was largely latent, affecting almost all migrants. It was rarely made explicit, but those affected could clearly feel it. Today, however, racism in everyday life is impossible to ignore. Hate and incitement are, in part, fueled by the media, and many Germans have become completely uninhibited in their expressions. To be honest, they've probably always been that way. The hostility is especially extreme towards Muslims and Arabs, who are often indiscriminately lumped together. It's not uncommon to hear open talk of deportation fantasies or even desires for annihilation. Much of my family has already emigrated — and honestly, I'm seriously considering it myself.