My Experience with Racism in Germany

Summary

In this video, Bharath shares his personal experiences with racism across multiple European countries, highlighting the contrasts between them. While his time in Germany, particularly in Hamburg, was mostly positive with a welcoming atmosphere, he faced some prejudice in Eastern European countries like Romania and Hungary, where xenophobic sentiments were more prevalent. Denmark also presented challenges due to right-wing attitudes toward refugees. Overall, Bharath emphasizes that Germany stands out as a more inclusive and immigrant-friendly country, offering a safer environment for foreigners compared to other European nations.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Fear of racism** often prevents people from moving to new countries, but it should not define the entire experience of living abroad.
• 😀 **Personal experience in Germany** was positive, with Hamburg being especially welcoming due to its diverse population of migrants.
• 😀 **Racism does exist in Europe**, but the extent and nature vary across countries. Some places are more welcoming, while others exhibit stronger xenophobic attitudes.
• 😀 **Germany's welcoming environment** is largely due to its historical reliance on immigration, with immigrants playing a crucial role in the economy.
• 😀 **Racism should be clearly defined** as explicit actions (like verbal abuse) rather than cultural misunderstandings or a bad mood.
• 😀 **Romania** presented a more challenging experience, with visible discomfort and xenophobia towards people of different ethnicities, especially those with darker skin tones.
• 😀 **Denmark**, though more tolerant than Romania, also harbors strong right-wing sentiments and occasionally exhibits discriminatory behaviors, particularly towards refugees.
• 😀 **Eastern European countries** like Romania and Hungary show more widespread xenophobia, despite many of their citizens seeking opportunities in more developed countries like Germany.
• 😀 **Norway** provided a neutral experience, where people were generally strict about regulations, but no extreme negative or positive cultural behaviors were observed.
• 😀 **Germany offers easier integration** for foreigners, with policies that allow students and workers to obtain residency and citizenship within a relatively short period (five years).
• 😀 **Personal anecdotes** highlight the differences in cultural norms and the varying levels of xenophobia across European countries, encouraging a more nuanced view of each country's societal dynamics.

Q & A

What does Bharath mention about the general perception of racism when moving to a new country?

Bharath highlights that many people are fearful of racism when moving to another country, largely due to media portrayals in movies and news. However, he reassures that not everyone in a given country holds racist views, and one should not generalize based on these portrayals.

How does Bharath describe his experience with racism in Germany?

Bharath's experience in Germany, particularly in Hamburg, was largely positive. He mentions that Hamburg is a highly multicultural city with many people from migrant backgrounds, and he never encountered any significant racism during his stay. Even in other German cities, he did not feel discriminated against.

What does Bharath identify as a potential reason for his positive experience in Germany?

Bharath believes that his positive experience in Germany could be due to living in Hamburg, a large, multicultural city where nearly 47% of the population has migrant backgrounds, which may contribute to a more welcoming atmosphere.

How does Bharath compare his experience in Romania to his experience in Germany?

Bharath found Romania to be less welcoming. He observed that many Romanians hold xenophobic attitudes, and he personally felt uncomfortable when people looked at him in a way that suggested contempt due to his darker skin. He also experienced an incident where a person suddenly stopped speaking to him after he greeted them, which he saw as indicative of prejudice.

What does Bharath say about the general cultural atmosphere in Romania regarding foreigners?

Bharath points out that Romania has a stronger prevalence of xenophobic ideas, with people often speaking in stereotypes behind closed doors. He suggests that this attitude may be linked to the historical issues Romanians have with the Romani people, who are perceived to have Indian origins.

What is Bharath's perspective on racism in Denmark?

Bharath's experience in Denmark was mixed. While he did not encounter overt racism, he felt a certain level of suspicion, such as when two people stared at him at an ATM. He attributes some of this to Denmark’s strong right-wing sentiment and limited acceptance of refugees, though he notes that Denmark’s culture differs greatly from Germany's.

How does Bharath describe his experience in Norway?

Bharath describes his experience in Norway as generally fine. He mentions that people in Norway are stricter with regulations but did not report any significant negative or positive incidents related to racism or cultural tension during his stay.

What does Bharath mention about Eastern European countries like Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria?

Bharath observes that Eastern European countries like Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria tend to have more pronounced xenophobic attitudes. He notes that these countries also have a significant number of people emigrating to more developed nations like Germany and the UK for better employment opportunities, despite their often negative perceptions of foreigners.

Why does Bharath feel Germany is more welcoming to foreigners compared to other European countries?

Bharath believes Germany is more welcoming because it has a long history of immigration, particularly with the large Turkish migrant community that started in the 1980s. He emphasizes that Germany depends on foreign workers to support its economy, making it easier for foreigners to settle, work, and even gain permanent residency.

How does Bharath define racism, and how does this influence his perception of his experiences?

Bharath defines racism as explicit, hateful behavior directed at someone because of their race, such as telling them to leave the country. He clarifies that casual interactions or bad moods are not necessarily racist, and he only considers an incident racist if the person directly expresses discriminatory views.