More than a million people of African origin live in Germany - and the vast majority experience racism in many areas of life.

This is suggested by a non-representative study called Afrozensus, which has been funded by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and has now been published.

According to this, around two thirds of the more than 6,000 respondents see themselves as having worse grades than white classmates or fellow students due to racist attributions in schools and universities.

According to two thirds of the study participants, complaints presented in medical practices are not taken seriously.

More than half said they had been checked by the police for no reason.

Just as many were mistakenly mistaken for drug dealers.

Johanna Christner

Editor in the section “Germany and the World”.

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According to the anonymously conducted study, anti-black racism also overshadows the search for a partner: Almost 80 percent of those surveyed described having received sexualized comments on appearance and alleged origin when online dating. More than 90 percent have experienced someone grabbing their hair without asking. Around 70 percent experienced discrimination when looking for accommodation; for blacks who are Muslims, it was 90 percent. Only 2.7 percent said they had never experienced racism. Another result of the online survey carried out from July to September 2020: More than 90 percent said that they would not be believed if they shared experiences of racism. 75 percent of those affected would not even report cases of racism.

"It was a really long way, it was a struggle," said the racism researcher Daniel Gyamerah of "Each One Teach One" during the online presentation of the research results on Tuesday. It was painful experience reports. So far, the federal government has not taken care of the collection of such data, "as it would actually be its human rights obligation," said Gyamerah. “Anti-black racism is not our problem. We didn't make it up or invent it, the problem is structural. "Bernhard Franke, acting head of the anti-discrimination agency, was satisfied:" The results of the Afrozensus clearly show the manifestations and effects of discrimination and anti-black racism in Germany. "

The Afrozensus is the first systematic study of the living conditions of people of African origin in Germany. The authors want to continue their research and publish the results in English and French. The survey was carried out as a joint project by the civil society organizations "Each One Teach One" and "Citizens of Europe", which are committed to diversity and democracy. The participants come from 144 countries, the youngest was 16 years old at the time of the survey, the oldest 102 years old. Seven out of ten respondents were born in Germany. The study's authors admitted that the pandemic made face-to-face interviews impossible. Although many people were easier to reach digitally,however, they mainly belong to a socio-economically better-off class - and particularly non-privileged, multiply discriminated and poor people are affected by anti-black racism.