Black people in Germany are subjected to “extensive” discrimination in almost all areas of life, according to the “Afrocensus”, a new survey charting the experiences of black individuals living in Germany.

Racism “anchored in German institutions”

“The results of the Afrocensus indicate that anti-black racism is widespread in Germany and anchored in institutions,” the authors of the report wrote in a press release. “There is no area of life in which discrimination and racism are not extensive problems.” 

Although not representative, the anonymous survey does reveal trends and patterns that highlight the racism and discrimination black people in Germany experience. A full 42 percent of the survey’s 6.000 respondents said they felt discriminated against by state institutions and in everyday life in Germany. 

Black people report struggling to find housing in Germany

Common incidents highlighted by survey respondents included people touching their hair without permission, asking them for drugs, and subjecting them to sexist comments regarding their appearance or skin colour. They further reported being stopped by the police more often than white people, and found that their skin colour made it harder for them to find an apartment. 

Just 2 percent of survey respondents said they had “rarely” or “never” experienced racism in the housing market, whereas 90 percent said they had experienced it “often” or “very often”. 88 percent recounted experiencing discrimination from security staff “often” or “very often”, while 85 percent had had similar experiences with the police. More than 85 percent had also experienced racism at work, at school or at university. 

A huge majority - as many as 90 percent - also said that people hadn’t believed them when they’d spoken about their experiences in the past, or that they’d been accused of being “too sensitive”. 75 percent said they do not report cases of racism. 

The publishers of the report say the study is only the beginning. They want to continue their research and translate the report into both English and French. They are further calling for Germany to establish more community and counselling centres, and for the government to come up with a concrete plan to tackle anti-black racism.