Author Ogette: Racism also existed in the GDR
Over the course of her life, Leipzig-based author Tupoka Ogette has experienced several incidents of racist hostility - including during the GDR era. "My family comforted and protected me, but we didn't call the problem by its name. We simply didn't have a language for it. Officially, there was no racism in the GDR, which was of course absurd," Ogette told the Sächsische Zeitung newspaper (Friday). There were situations in which her physical integrity was in danger and she was called racist names. "I can count them on one hand, but they were still traumatizing."
Racism is a spectrum, says the 43-year-old. "Physical assaults and the racist murder are the tip of the iceberg. Racism manifests itself in a derogatory, paternalistic, exorcising or even demonizing attitude towards black people and people of colour." The paternalistic attitude can be found in all areas of society, said the woman from Leipzig.
In the GDR era, author Ogette faced racist hostility despite the official claim of no racism in the country. Racism, as Ogette explains, is not just physical assaults or derogatory comments, but also a paternalistic attitude towards black people and people of color, which she found prevalent in all areas of society.
Source: www.dpa.com
