Afro-German Identity and the Struggle for Racial Equality: A Garveyite Perspective
The Afro-German identity exists within a historical and social framework shaped by German colonialism, anti-Black racism, and systemic exclusion. Despite their presence in Germany for centuries, Afro-Germans have been subjected to erasure, discrimination, and racial violence, often being treated as foreigners in a land they call home. From a Garveyite perspective, the struggles of Afro-Germans are not isolated incidents of racism but part of a larger global system of white supremacy and European neo-colonialism, designed to keep Black people divided, disempowered, and dependent on white nations.
Marcus Garvey’s philosophy teaches that Black people can never achieve full liberation within white-dominated societies and must instead focus on Pan-African unity, economic self-determination, and cultural restoration. A Garveyite analysis of Afro-German identity reveals that integration into German society will never provide true freedom—instead, the solution lies in Black empowerment, African reconnection, and global solidarity with the African diaspora.
1. The Origins of Afro-German Identity: Colonialism, War, and Erasure
Germany’s engagement with Africa began with its colonial expansion in the late 19th century, during which it controlled Namibia, Tanzania, Togo, and Cameroon. This history of exploitation laid the foundation for Germany’s treatment of Black people, reinforcing the belief that Africans were subjects, not citizens.
A. German Colonialism and the First Genocide of the 20th Century
The Herero and Nama Genocide (1904–1908) in present-day Namibia was Germany’s first large-scale crime against humanity.
German forces exterminated over 80,000 Herero and Nama people, marking one of the earliest recorded genocides in modern history.
Africans were placed in concentration camps, subjected to forced labor, medical experiments, and mass executions.
The racial ideology used to justify these atrocities later influenced Nazi racial theories, showing that European anti-Blackness and anti-Semitism were deeply interconnected.
Example: Germany only formally acknowledged the genocide in 2021, but has refused to pay reparations—just as other European nations continue to exploit Africa without accountability.
Key Takeaway: Germany’s colonial crimes are directly linked to its ongoing racism against Black people. Without historical justice, true equality is impossible.
B. The Forgotten Afro-Germans of the Early 20th Century
Afro-Germans have existed in Germany for over a century, but their history has been systematically erased.
Many Afro-Germans were the children of African soldiers from Germany’s colonies or African-American soldiers stationed in Germany after WWI and WWII.
They were denied German citizenship, segregated, and treated as “racially impure.”
During the Nazi era, Afro-Germans were sterilized, imprisoned, or killed under Hitler’s racial policies.
Example: The Afro-German Holocaust victims remain largely ignored in mainstream German history, despite their suffering under Nazi racial laws.
Key Takeaway: Afro-Germans were never meant to be part of the German national identity. They were always treated as temporary, unwanted, and disposable.
2. The Post-War Period: Neo-Colonial Racism and Systemic Exclusion
After World War II, Afro-Germans faced a new era of racism and marginalization. The German government, despite its efforts to address Holocaust crimes, never fully confronted its anti-Black history.
A. The “Brown Babies” of Post-WWII Germany
Thousands of Afro-German children were born to white German mothers and Black American soldiers after WWII.
They were seen as a “problem” for German racial purity and were either adopted out to the U.S. or raised in isolation, facing discrimination at every turn.
Many were denied citizenship and struggled with identity, being neither fully accepted in Germany nor the U.S.
Example: German authorities promoted the forced adoption of Afro-German children to America, reinforcing the idea that Blackness did not belong in Germany.
Key Takeaway: Afro-Germans have always been treated as foreigners, even when they are born in Germany.
B. The Myth of a “Post-Racial” Germany
Germany promotes itself as a nation that has reckoned with its racist past, yet Afro-Germans continue to experience:
Institutional racism in education, employment, and housing.
Police brutality and racial profiling, with Black people disproportionately targeted by law enforcement.
Erasure from mainstream German history and culture, with Black contributions ignored in national narratives.
Example: The 2020 Black Lives Matter protests exposed the deep racial inequalities in Germany, yet German officials dismissed anti-Black racism as an “American problem.”
Key Takeaway: Germany pretends to be progressive, but it still refuses to fully acknowledge and address its anti-Black history and present.
3. The Garveyite Solution: Afro-Germans Must Reject Assimilation and Build Global Black Power
From a Garveyite perspective, Afro-Germans must stop seeking inclusion in a system that was never designed to protect or empower them. Instead, they must focus on:
A. Embracing Pan-Africanism Over European Identity
Germany will never fully accept Black people, no matter how “integrated” they become.
Afro-Germans must see themselves as part of the African diaspora, not just as Germans.
The key to liberation is building connections with Africa and the broader Black world.
Example: Marcus Garvey’s vision of Africa for Africans teaches that Black people must invest in their own futures, not seek white validation.
B. Economic Self-Sufficiency and Rejection of German Dependence
Black people in Germany must support Black-owned businesses and invest in African economies.
Germany still profits from African resources through economic neo-colonialism—Afro-Germans must challenge this exploitation.
Building independent financial institutions and Pan-African trade networks is key to self-determination.
Example: The CFA franc, controlled by France, still enslaves African economies—similar systems of economic control exist in Germany’s relations with Africa.
C. Reclaiming African Culture and History
Afro-Germans must teach their children true African history, not just European narratives.
The German education system erases African contributions—Black communities must establish independent schools and cultural centres.
Language is power—Afro-Germans must reclaim African languages and reject the idea that speaking perfect German equals intelligence.
Example: Garvey emphasized that Black people must control their own education, rather than relying on white institutions that distort history.
Key Takeaway: Assimilation into white society is not liberation—true freedom comes from reclaiming African identity and power.
4. The Future of Afro-German Identity: Resistance, Not Submission
Afro-Germans are at a crossroads:
Continue seeking inclusion in a system designed to exclude them?
Or build power outside of it, aligning with Africa and the global Black struggle?
Marcus Garvey’s teachings remind us that Black people will never be truly free within white societies. The only way forward is through Pan-African unity, economic independence, and cultural reclamation. Afro-Germans must:
Reject white validation and embrace African identity.
Invest in Black economies, not European ones.
Connect with global Black movements fighting for justice.
Only through self-determination and collective strength can Afro-Germans break free from their colonial chains and forge a future on their own terms.
Black people do not need white acceptance—Black people need Black power.
