THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Racist insults, threats and online hate are part of everyday life for many Black people and Afro-Germans in Germany, according to a new study by the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society (Instituts für Demokratie und Zivilgesellschaft, IDZ). The study, which was officially presented and released in Jena in December 2025, highlights racism as a structural problem deeply embedded in German society, with serious consequences for those affected.
Speaking at the presentation, co-author Laura Dellagiacoma said racism against Black people in Germany is not limited to isolated incidents or extremist groups, but is woven into everyday interactions and institutional practices. The effects, she stressed, are far-reaching, undermining self-determination, social participation and both mental and physical health.
The study is based on a nationwide survey of 1,008 adults who identify as Black or Afro-German. The data were collected in March 2024. According to the findings, three out of four respondents have personally experienced racist insults online, with 26 percent reporting that such abuse occurs frequently. Almost nine in ten participants (88 percent) said they had encountered racist hate messages on social media platforms.
Importantly, the study shows that racism does not only come from anonymous individuals online or from far-right circles. Many respondents reported experiencing racist behaviour from public authorities, the police, political actors, and in the workplace. Around 60 percent said they had been subjected to racist threats at least once.
As a result of these experiences, many Black people withdraw from certain spaces. Participants reported avoiding specific neighbourhoods, events, institutions and even social media platforms to protect themselves. At the same time, the researchers noted a strong commitment among many respondents to continue resisting racism. Despite personal risks, numerous participants remain active in civil society, advocacy and political engagement aimed at strengthening social cohesion.
The authors formulated five key recommendations to counter everyday racism. These include expanding political and civic education, enforcing anti-discrimination laws more consistently, establishing independent complaints and reporting mechanisms, and increasing financial support for anti-racism initiatives and self-organised community structures.
The study also addresses the role of the media, urging journalists and editors to reflect critically on how reporting can reinforce or dismantle racist stereotypes. Media professionals, the authors argue, have a responsibility to actively engage with anti-racism and to counter hate speech.
For Africans and people of African descent living in Germany, the IDZ study confirms what many already experience daily: racism is not an exception, but a persistent reality. At the same time, it underscores the urgent need for institutional accountability and sustained political action to ensure equal rights, dignity and full participation in German society.
Vivian Asamoah
