Awareness Weeks at the University of Hamburg

White Fragility

Just because something is meant to a compliment doesn’t mean it lands well. "White" people often don’t like being confronted with accusations of racism. In around 45% of incidents, the response is that the other person is “too sensitive.” This shifting of blame makes it harder to address racism.

Downplaying Racist Experiences

Racism is often seen as a problem only on the far right, but it exists in every part of society—yes, even here in our own neighborhood. In the media, most attention is given to violent racism, leaving more everyday, subtle forms almost invisible.

Eurocentrism in Education

Socioeconomic and political inequalities have, for centuries, either blocked or limited access to universities for BIPoC. The result? BIPoC* perspectives are still underrepresented in academic spaces.

To this day, racist and Eurocentric structures persist in the content of what’s being taught.

*BIPoC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color

Othering

Often, people subconsciously assume someone’s origin based on their appearance. Many overlook the fact that Germany is a diverse society and have an unexamined idea of what a “real” German looks like.

Colonialism

Before the University of Hamburg was founded in 1919, the main building housed the Colonial Institute, where colonial officers were trained. For a long time, many academic fields remained influenced by colonial thinking. It wasn’t until 2014 that the Research Center for Hamburg’s (Post-)Colonial Legacy was established.

Racial Stress / Unconscious Biases

People with non-German-sounding names often take longer to find a new apartment. Many aren’t even invited to viewings. This stems from unexamined biases that wrongly attribute negative traits to them.

Unconscious Biases / Microaggressions

Racism often shows up in biased behaviors—like grabbing your bag when someone who looks like an immigrant walks by. This unexamined behavior is still racism, even if it rarely shows up in statistics.