Journal Entry 1
01/26/2021
Pre-reading reflection:
How would you define “race”? Does your definition and understanding of the concept differ from other
definitions? If so how? Why do you think it is important to engage in discussions about race?
ANRS: Introduction (1-30):
1. Explain the significance of the experience of Nigerian football player Adebowale Ogungbure for
a public discussion on racism in Germany and Europe.
The surge in racist remarks and actions especially among the black people remained rampant in
Europe. In this case, the football player's treatment as he exited the playing field whereby he
got subjected to mockery and other unfair treatment such as being spat on while others made
noises akin to monkeys highlighted the height of racism and to some extent, the intolerance
witnessed in the post-war period. The retaliation by Ogungbure by displaying the Nazi salute
was however the focus of attention leading to investigations by the legal authorities (1). Though
the player was later released, the swift action initiated against him as opposed to the
humiliation meted upon him and others depicts the state of racism in Germany and Europe at
large.
2. How do you understand Ogungbure’s apology? (p 3)
The apology by the Nigerian player for his recidivist acts came way after the football manning
bodies such as FIFA and actions by players such as Thierry Henry to champion the end of racism
acts especially in football pitches (3). In this case, the apology was given as an afterthought after
significant strides had been made to ban racist acts like was the case in the 2006 football world
cup.
3. Scholars agree that “Racism has no single characteristic form” meaning that notions of race and
ethnicity are fluid, contingent and unstable. Outline the differences between ‘race’ and
‘ethnicity’.
There exist several distinct differences between the aspects of race and ethnicity. First, ethnicity
is represented by peoplehood because of their customs and language whereby race on the
other hand tends to be radicalized and does not necessarily exist in nature. Second, race is
usually associated with phenotypic aspects that include skin color while ethnicity, on the other
hand, includes cultural aspects such as tribal affiliation, traditions, and nationality of a specific
group (4). Third, race is associated with physical traits of humankind for specific individuals
whereas ethnicity is predominantly associated with large groups of people through factors such
as religion and nationhood among others.
4. What is the “Zero Hour”? Why is it considered to be a “myth”?
Zero hour was one of the concepts that were predominantly used in the United Kingdom to
denote a situation where workers got hired according to the needs that arose from time to time.
Ideally, this means that the said workers could only work on a contractual basis. The concept of
zero-hour was considered a myth in Germany and at the same time deconstructed as it failed to
represent the absolute rupture and did not represent the ideals of the country (5).
5. “Race, ethnicity, and nature are not so much discrete entities or things in themselves but rather
modes of perceptions or ways of making sense of the world.” (p 14). Explain using examples
from the discussion on pp 8-14.
The Christian anti-Judaism offers a succinct example in terms of nature and religion that it is a
mode of perception geared towards making some sense to the Jews in their quest of
reprimanding the Islamization of the immigrants from Turkey (11). Also, the condemnation of
the far-right claims by the Christians in the early 1980s in a way that threatened the purity of
the Republic got viewed as racist (13). It, therefore, shows that aspects such as ethnicity, race,
and nature are created modes of perceptions with the motive of making sense of the world.
6. “Democracy and race were intertwined in West Germany in two respects” (21) Explain.
The building of a rather strong and stable economy in West Germany became one of the aspects
that prove that indeed democracy and race in West Germany remained intertwined (21).
Second, the requirement of extra manpower by the federal government to address the shortage
of labor also goes to prove that indeed democracy and race in West Germany were intertwined.
7. Post War Europe engaged in a project of “reordering national societies”. (26) What were the
reasons for this reorder? What were the consequences.
The reasons for the reopening included securing stability and peace in the region that had just
come from the world war (26). Ideally, this meant that political stability was achieved in the
rather highly volatile region. Also, it helped in the actual installation of the communist
governments in the regions. The consequences of the reorder included a rather destabilized
post-war political strategy and also the cultivation of a culture of purity.
Journal Entry 2
02/02/2021
Journal Reflection
ANRS, Chapter 1
1. This chapter focuses on a reformulation of race after 1945. Comment on the reasons, why
“Mischlingskinder” or “Black Occupation Children” became the subject of social policies on race.
Before 1945, Children became the main targets in the Nazi regime murderous quest. They
wanted to create a new order based on the notions of racial purity. In an aim of crafting a super
state and realizing a pure empire in Europe, Black occupation children became the target of the
social policies they implemented. These included things such as euthanasia and sterilizationthey went as far as committing mass murders.
2. Post-war Germany saw a liberalization of abortion policies. Comment on the racial implications
of these policies.
Post-war Germany saw a liberalization of abortion policies. However, these policies had severe
racial implications for all parties involved. For instance, the blacks and other minority groups
were considered lesser; as a result, it was easy to get an abortion permit if you claimed you had
been raped by these groups. Additionally, people started viewing abortion in psychological and
mental terms. For instance, a woman wrote that she had been raped by a Moroccan and that
her mental health was at stake. For these people, minority groups were outcasts and not to be
considered equal. They were viewed as some sort of disease which led to further discrimination
and racism.
3. Heide Fehrenbach argues that the focus on Afro-American paternity was a deliberate act. What
were the reasons for this narrow focus? What role did the American Society for Christian-Jewish
Cooperation play in the German debate about race? What role did social sciences such
anthropology and psychology, and “Prejudice studies” play in the formulation of social and
educational policies in Germany in the 1950s?
Heide Fehrenbach argues that the focus on Afro-American paternity was a deliberate act. The
reason for this narrow focus was to select children of the UA black occupation to kidnap and kill
y injections. In essence, the focus was aimed at balancing the race in the country and influencing
the odds in the favor of the white. The American Society for Christian Jewish Cooperation was
founded to fight the racist violence of the Ku Klux Klan and anti-Semitism. They were deployed
to help fight racism and respond to situations where discrimination was at its highest levels.
Social sciences such as anthropology and psychology played a vital factor in influencing people’s
understanding on race. Through the experiments conducted, they were able to ascertain
whether race makes people different and what influences it.
4. The adoption of “Brown Babies” by African Americans (initiated by Mabel Grammar) turned out
to be problematic. Why?
The adoption of ‘Brown Babies’ by African Americans turned out to be problematic. First, the
Germans considered the Afro-Germans as inferior. The rates of adoption were therefore low,
social services started placing the Afro-German babies into families of the same cultural and
ethnic origin. The adoption of the ‘brown babies’ turned out to be problematic because of
various factors. First, it influenced competition across all sectors, for example, competition for
employment. The problem with integration is that it bred more division and alienation for the
brown babies.
5. By the late 1960 the integration of Black Germans into mainstream society had been considered
a success. What are some examples of this alleged success? What are some examples of the
continuous racism particularly when considering the intersection of gender and race?
By 1960, the integration of Black Germans into mainstream society has been considered a
success (Fehrenbach, 2009). This alleged success ranged from increased employment
opportunities to the change in societal views and perspectives on Black occupation children. The
Black Germans were accepted into mainstream society through marriages and cross-breeding.
6. Despite the rhetoric of successful integration, the focus on “difference and its perceived social
disruptions” continued and was interpreted as “Xenophobia,” the hatred of foreigners. What
impact did this shift in focus have on debates about race?
Xenophobia contributed to the debate about race. The hate for foreigners can be directly
associated with racism and discrimination. It influences how people perceive each other; hence
their reactions and behaviors towards each other.
Reflect on what you consider to be the most significant learning aspect(s) of this chapter. How does
this reading help you to understand (more deeply) the concepts of race, and racialization and their
importance for notions of national, social and cultural identities? How does the debate about race in
post-war Germany compare and contrast to what you know/have learned about race and racism in
your own country?
These readings influenced my understanding on race and notions of national, social and cultural
identities. It helped me understand how racism was embedded in the histories of most countries
such as Germany and how this influenced their current racial make-up. The struggle of the Africans
since time immemorial has been significantly highlighted through the milestones they had to face
and conquer to achieve a semblance of equality. The debate about race in post-war Germany
compares to what I have learned about racism in my own country. Just like the Germans, Americans
felt threatened by the Africans.
Journal Entry 3
02/09/2021
Personal Thoughts On May Ayim’s Poems
In her poems, May Ayim sought to address the socially and politically constructed notions that existed
even after the Berlin Wall falls. In many of her poems, she expressed the bitterness of life-based on how
people were being treated. For instance, in her poem, "borderless and brazen: a poem against the
German "u-not-y," she alludes that she will remain black even if the blackness was not pleasing to
others. Furthermore, she posits that she will remain African even if people wanted her to be a German.
Her sentiments in the poem indicate how people mistreating individuals of black origin and, more so,
the Africans.
According to May Ayim, blacks needed to go beyond what they could do to see them overcome
what they were passing through and demand freedom. This poem seems to reflect either what May
Ayim had passed through or saw an African passing just because of his or her skin color. When May
Ayim lived in Berlin, she protected herself from day-to-day undisguised insults and hostility from racist
offenses.
May Ayim also authored the poem "Blues in Black and Whites," in the poem, she addresses the
themes of politics, love, and absurdities in day-to-day life. In the poem, May Ayim uses unique styles in
addressing the issues mentioned above. Her poetic language effectively expresses the dangerous
stereotypes created and the texts hidden in the day-to-day use of language and human characters. The
poem exposes the complexities of life and the available irony that is created within those complexities.
May Ayim utilizes poetic humor to pass her intended message to the public. She criticizes the ills present
in German.
Journal Entry 4
02/16/2021
Frieder Schlaich, Otomo, 1999
The film Otomo draws on material from a public controversy that originated in Stuttgart in 1989
following the fatal shooting of a Liberian asylum seeker, Frederic Otomo during a scuffle in which 2
officers were mortally wounded.
The film director, Frieder Schlaich sought to do a docudrama about the incident in Stuttgart. However,
the project was deemed too controversial. The police refused to offer documentation needed to
accurately recreate the event.
The shooting was regarded as one of the most contentious crimes in Stuttgart’s post war history. It led
to bitter national debate comparable to that which later arose in NYC following the fatal shooting of
West African Amadou Diallo by NY police officers.
Questions:
1. What do we learn about Otomo in the first scene?
Otomo came from Liberia through Cameroons, and he has not been under unemployed for a
long time. He woke up that morning to look for a job, and he was all alone, yet it was his
birthday. He was a black man and had been in the country for eight years.
2. Describe the scene at the day laborer agency. What are some of the racist moments Otomo
encounters? Do the men express different attitudes towards Otomo? In what way?
Otomo tries for a minimum-wage position using his temporary passport, the only official papers
he has. He is told the passport is not enough for qualification, and he is refused the job. The men
express discriminatory attitudes towards him. They make fun of his scuffed shoes owing to
being very poor by calling them “jungle creepers.”
3. Comment on events in the streetcar and the police station where the ticket controllers report
on Otomo. Do you think the controllers’ response to Otomo is justified? Why/Why not?
At the police station, the ticket controller and his partner try to record a statement. The woman
gets hold of the ticket and somehow realizes the access could have been good. It shows Otomo
could have been right. The controller’s response was not justified as he should have tried to find
more of why the ticket could have been faulty.
4. Describe Rolf’s and Heinz’ characters and actions throughout the film. Do they change in their
behavior/attitude? How? What is Heinz’ motivation in his attempt to catch Otomo?
Rolf is portrayed as an ambitious officer, as he envisions rapping to break his monotony of daily
routines. Heinz, on the other hand, had plans to start a family, but he had not seen
opportunities. The two carry out policing actions that depict the integrity and objectivity of the
justice system. Heinz's motivation to apprehend Otomo was to gain promotion to start a family.
YES.
5. What role does Gisela and her daughter Simone play? What kind of a person is Gisela?
Gisela and Simone provided the time to portray Otomo’s identity and personality. They
represent the kind people in society who are capable of aiding strangers in need. They evidence
source of hope and final kind times that Otomo would have. Gisela is displayed as a considerate
and affectionate woman. She takes him in and offers him money for transport.
6. Reflect on the final scene and the historical footage of the funeral of the two policemen.
Compare to Otomo’s funeral.
Symbolic differences can be seen in the level of importance and justice offered to people. The
two policemen were accorded a state funeral with people attending, while Otomo’s funeral had
none. Racial discrimination is portrayed at great depths as his death is described as necessary
for killing the policemen.
What do you think the film is about? This is NOT a question of story line but one of deeper
meanings/questions exemplified through the story.
The film is about racial discrimination that minorities in Germany and other parts of the world,
especially immigrates seeking asylum, face in their daily lives. The film builds on the justice system's
inefficiencies that further increase inequality and extortion of due criminal justice due process.
GOOD POINTS
Journal Entry 5
02/23/2021
ANRS: Chapter 2
Questions
1. Briefly comment on the classification of Jews in Germany after WWII. What are the implications
of labelling them “displaced persons” and “infiltrees”?
The classification of Jews in Germany after the world war influenced racism and discrimination.
People labeling the displaced persons and ‘infiltrees’ made them seem inferior and aliens in
another man’s land. Instead of people embracing them, they started discriminating them. They
were not considered as part of the country’s make up, they were identified as displaced
persons.
2. What does “Waiting room situation” refer to?
The Waiting room in this situation refers to the period the Jews were waiting for resettlement
elsewhere. The levels of discrimination in Germany had spiked which influenced the Jews
perceptions in terms of being resettled elsewhere.
3. In May 1848, the Jewish State was declared. Reflect on its significance for the status of Jews in
Europe.
The status of the Jews in Europe changed with the declaration of the Jewish state in 18ewish
state in 1848. These people had an identity and were no longer considered as displaced persons.
Its establishment saw the passing of many laws that reflected the values and identity of the
Jewish people. It established a community for the Jews in Europe; their values and practices
were considered important and equal to the Europeans.
4. What was the central question about the future of Jews in Germany?
The central question about the future of the Jews in Germany was based on their future. There
were major arguments over the future of the Jewish community and whether the Jews were
justified in remaining in Germany. The central question was based on the Jewish community
leaving Germany and whether this would automatically grant Hitler victory.
5. What did the “New Anti-Semitism” look like?
The New anti-Semitism was a concept associated with the formation of anti-Semitism in the
later 20th century. They opposed Zionism and the Israeli government and criticized the concept
of Semitism. In essence, they opposed any form of slavery and supported unity and
collaboration across all tribes.
6. What is meant by the “Hard Core”?
“Hard Core” are Germany Jews who did not leave Germany in 1950. The Germany Jews did not
have much relationship to Judaism. It was because of restoration of normality in West Germany.
The “Hard Core” stubbornly resisted the unwilling emigration or resettlement.
7. Describe the relationship between the Jews and the German population in the 1950s.
Racism was still a significant factor between the Jews and the German population in the 1950s.
However, new initiatives were being implemented and drafted that respected ethnicity and
diversity in the country. In as much as the relationship was not good, these people strived to
maintain peace and collaboration among each other.
Journal Entry 6
03/02/2021
Fringe Voices 35-46 and 57-74
Rafael Seligmann
Rafael Seligmann was born in Tel Aviv in 1947.His parents had fled Nazi Germany, but returned
to the country in 1957 and settled in Munich where Seligmann witnessed the normalization of
German-Jewish relations first-hand. After giving up a traineeship as a television technician, and
further schooling, he eventually studied history and politics wrote a doctorate in 1982 on Israel's
security policy. He became a journalist and a political adviser and has written essays and novels
about the German-Jewish experience.
He founded the Jewish Voice From Germany, an English-language quarterly which ran from
2012-2019. On founding the journal, Seligmann noted, “I was adamant that Hitler should not
have the last word on German-Jewish History”.
Jews & Germans: A Vibrant Reality | Jewish Voice From Germany (jewish-voice-fromgermany.de)
Zionism and The Underling (p 35-46)
1. How would you describe the character of Jonathan Rubinstein, the adolescent Jew in
Seligmann’s novel “Rubinstein’s Auction” in the segments “Zionism and “The Underling”?
Jonathan Rubinstein appears to be an individual who is principled and holds integrity dearly in
Zionism (Seligmann, 1995). His arguments are valid and only seem rude, as the executive
members have embezzled the funds. Jonathan further displays confidence and understanding in
“The Underling” as he restlessly looks for his teacher’s attention and understands the situation
of the high risks that she is putting herself in.
2. What do we learn about conflicts within the Jewish Diaspora in Germany in “Zionism” and
between Jewish and non-Jewish Germans in “The Underling”?
The conflicts within Zionism depict corruption and leadership dishonesty among a group of
common ancestry. Instances of corruption and dishonesty limit Jewish progress. On the other
hand, conflicts in "The Underling" present societal conventions on relationships between a
teacher and a student that society prohibits. Love relationships between Jewish and Germans
are perceived vices.
Henryk M Broder (1946-)
is a Polish-born German journalist, author, and TV personality. He is known for his polemics,
columns, and comments in written and audiovisual media. He wrote for the magazine Der
Spiegel as well as its online version and the daily Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. Since 2010,
he has been writing for Die Welt. He is co-editor of Der Jüdische Kalender (The Jewish calendar),
a compilation of quotes and texts relating to German Jewish culture, published annually. Besides
his numerous publications, he appears as a frequent guest on German TV talk shows. Broder is
especially interested in “Coming to terms with the (National Socialist) Past”
(Vergangenheitsbewältigung), Islam, Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He sees a close
relationship between German criticism of Israel’s policies and Antisemitism.
1. How would you define Broder’s concept of “Heimat” or homeland?
Broder’s concept of homeland attributes that Heimat should be a concept that lacks the
territorial aspect. A home encompasses the constant search for newer experiences in different
areas and not necessarily a single place for a lifetime (Broder, 2004). Fixed dwellings such as
cities cannot be regarded as Heimat, as residence should not be permanent.
2. Comment briefly on 2-3 sections of the text that you find most thought provoking, challenging
or even disturbing.
The first section that is thought-provoking is the territorial aspect concerning homes. The new
perspective brings in territorial relevance, as most people are not residing in their places of
birth. Another thought-provoking ordeal is the historical connections to instances of mobility
and the cliché "wandering Jew" that indeed portrays the historical mobility that influences
Heimat's definition.
3. Explain how these short texts relate to “From Victims to Homeless Foreigners” ?
The short text presented by Broder depicts his definition of homes as an aspect that should not
be territorial as people will always search for newer experiences. In the same connection, the
notion relates with "From Victims to Homeless Foreigners." It describes how the survivors of the
holocaust aim for newer experiences through emigration and away from Germany.
I made some suggestions for a more nuanced reading
particularly for the two chapters in ANRS.
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