No matter where we reside in the world as part of the African Diaspora, sooner or later, despite our best efforts, racism will rear its ugly head and we'll have to deal with it.That message was driven home once again after I read on CNN.com and watched the news story about 45 year old Zeca Schall. He's a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Union party, was born in Angola, moved to Germany to live in 1988 and became a German citizen in 2004.
Schall has been named as a CDU expert for the integration of minorities.
I have much love for Germany. I took German in high school and I'm fascinated by its history, scientific and technological prowess, its politics, its people and its culture. It's also where some world transgender history was made. Much of the research that made it possible for us to deal with our gender issues was done by people such as Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld.
But there is that twelve year period from 1933-1945 in which Germany lost their damned minds and succumbed to right wing madness. They elected that failed Austrian painter and author of Mein Kampf as chancellor to the detriment of Germany and the world.
I'm also concerned about what's happening to Schall because I have family members who live in Germany. Schall resides in Thuringia, a state bordering the Czech Republic that used to be part of the former East Germany.
While its not as problematic in the western states that made up the former West Germany where my cousins reside, in those five eastern states they still have problems with fascist and racist behavior.
There was an October 1993 incident in Oberhof in which African-American luger Robert Pipkins was verbally and physically attacked by 15 neo-Nazi skinheads while visiting a disco during an international luge competition. Duncan Kennedy received facial and chest injuries while coming to the aid of his teammate.The denizens of Oberhof were so disgusted by the incident the then mayor of Oberhof sent a letter of apology to then President Bill Clinton. The owner of the disco offered to treat both American lugers to free drinks and admission during their next visit to the town.
Schall has attracted the ire of a far-right anti-immigration German party. The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) is channelling their inner Nazis and called on him to leave the country.
The NPD has been under surveillance by Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution for alleged contacts with illegal neo-Nazi groups. However, past efforts to ban the party have failed on technicalities.
But judging by their rhetoric, they ain't exactly rolling out the welcome mat for him either. A statement posted on their website said, "The CDU seems to be realizing that even after years of re-education, negroes cannot be accepted as permanent guests in our state."
Schall has the support of the CDU and the denizens of his adopted hometown of Hildburghausen, where he is a volunteer firefighter. But even the residents admit they still have some rockheads who want to turn the clock back to 1933.The situation escalated to a worrisome level Wednesday when the NPD held a rally in Hildburghausen. They attempted to get to Schall's home but police dispacted to protect him thwarted the attempt.
NPD Party Chairman Udo Voigt claims in a press rel;ease all they wanted to do was speak to Schall "and persuade Mr. Schall that he is needed more in Angola than in Germany."
Yeah, right.
Because of the numerous death threats he has received in the runup to this state election in Thuringia, Schall has been pulled from campaign events because the CDP feels it's too risky for him to do them. Schall told CNN he had never before been subjected to such a level of racial hatred.
"I am shocked," he said Thursday at a campaign event in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. "I simply cannot believe that people would do this to fellow humans."
"I have police patrolling at my house day and night, and some officers stay in my house overnight," he said.
Schall, who appears on a CDU election poster, said he is scared but won't be intimidated by far right thugs.
Nevertheless, I'll still be saying a little prayer on your behalf for your safety.
