U.S. MISSION GERMANY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS 2022
- Join the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Germany once again this February to acknowledge and honor the history, legacy, and contributions of Black Americans – past and present.
- Look out for announcements from U.S. Mission Germany and our partners via Instagram (@usbotschaft), Facebook (@usbotschaftberlin), and Twitter (@usbotschaft)
#BHM2022 #BlackHistoryMonth.
Thursday, February 3, 2022, 19:00-20:00
Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992
Virtual Panel Discussion and Screening
Livestream available on Youtube and Facebook
Watch documentary here:
In German.
She was the mentor and catalyst who helped ignite the Afro-German movement. With her active support a whole generation of writers and poets for the first time gave voice to their unique experience as people of color in Germany: Black. Queer. Feminist.
The panelists will discuss the documentary “Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992.” The film is a compelling and unique documentary that explores the little–known time that U.S. poet and activist Audre Lorde spent in Germany, her relation to the German Black Diaspora, and her literary and political influence. The film is also a valuable historical document of German history, which tells about the development of an Afro-German movement and the origins of the anti-racist movement before and after German reunification. The film presents the beginnings of these political debates and therefore facilitates a historical analysis and an understanding of present debates on identity and racism in Germany.
Panel Discussion with
- Dr. Dagmar Schultz (filmmaker)
- Ika Hügel-Marshall, co-author
- Tahir Della, Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland Bund e.V
- Moderated by Anne Potjans, Lecturer for North American Literature and Culture, Humboldt University Berlin
Monday, February 7, 16:00-17:00
Gems of Wisdom: The History of Hip Hop
Interactive Workshop with Q&A (virtual) with musician Wordsmith (Baltimore, MD) and rapper/producer Nelson Brandt a.k.a. Nepumuk (Offenbach/Mainz)
Please register for Zoom Webinar here.
In English.
In celebration of Black History Month, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Germany invite you to join Baltimore-based musician Wordsmith and his band as they take you on an interactive journey on the power and impact of Hip Hop. Discover Hip Hop’s various styles, musical and technological influences, performative elements and how artists have used Hip Hop’s forms of expression to stand up for social justice and fight against discrimination. The first wave of English-language Hip Hop came to Germany from the United States at the beginning of the 1980s. Hip Hop parties and competitions sprang up, drawing rappers, sprayers and break-dancers from across the country. Backed by a generation of young fans, artists around the world continue to use Hip Hop’s popularity as a way to piece together societal fractures, building bridges between different cultures in the face of division. Wordsmith is joined by Offenbach-based artist Nelson Brandt, a.k.a. Nepumuk. This workshop is a mixture of lecture, performance and interactive teaching.
Livestream Concert with Wordsmith and Special Guest Chantal Yancey
Follow the live stream on YouTube
The U.S. Embassy Berlin and the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt invite you to a virtual performance brought to you live from Baltimore, Maryland, the home of hip hop artist Wordsmith! It is the artist’s mission to deliver
conscious hip hop to the masses as a means of promoting a positive and purpose-driven life. He has released six albums and is a Grammy voting member. Wordsmith is also a songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist. With his independent label Nu Revolution Entertainment he works with major brands such as Netflix, ESPN and the NFL. His non-profit Rise with a Purpose, Inc. supports kids and young adults in Baltimore in their musical training and strengthens multi-cultural ties with workshops and performances around the world. Wordsmith will be supported by Chantal Yancey, Marburg-based vocalist and music educator, specialized in hip hop.
Monday, February 14, 2022, 19:00–20:00
Cultivating Social Change Leadership:
Learning from Black History about Building Bridges across
Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
Virtual Keynote and Discussion with Layli Maparyan (Professor & Chair of Africana Studies, Wellesley College) and Aisha Camara (Moderator)
Please register here
What have key figures from U.S. Black History taught us about forging reconciliation across differences? How have Black women and men built bridges that cross not only race, but also ethnicity, nationality, religion, and other forms of difference? What does it take to build cultures of inclusion, especially after histories of exclusion, oppression and violence? By understanding the contributions made from past and present historical figures,we can share the important lessons learned for addressing the conflicts that prevent our societies from making progress. We can all become change leaders by learning from these examples and taking practical actions to make lasting change. Please join this interactive discussion as we connect across nations – the U.S. and Germany – in ways that advance our understanding and deepen our sense of shared endeavor.
Welcome Remarks by Elizabeth Horst, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy Berlin.
A program of the U.S. Embassy Berlin and U.S. Consulates in Germany in cooperation with virtualspeakerseries@mediacompany.com
Monday, February 21, 2022, 19:30
Black and (…) / Schwarz und (…)
Storytelling Salon organized by ISD Frankfurt
Livestream via YouTube
More info here
In German.
People of Color are distinct, not a homogeneous group. Their identities are defined by multiple affiliations, multiple nationalities and lives without borders. They are unique in their gender identities, desires, beliefs, abilities, income levels, and other attributes. Black is diverse. One term for this is intersectionality, a concept that recognizes that a person is not just made up of a single characteristic, but of many characteristics, and that these interact with one another. The Afro Census, released by the German government and EOTO e.V. in 2021, focuses on this diversity and shows that higher than average social engagement comes from the very people who are especially vulnerable due to intersecting experiences of discrimination. So, what constitutes our differences and how can we form alliances? The eighth storytelling evening organized by ISD Frankfurt offers a space for individuals to share their stories from Afrodiasporic, multiple and transnational perspectives. They are personal expressions paired with political contexts. The format is reminiscent of the tradition of oral history that is widespread on the African continent.
Storytellers:
- Betânia Ramos Schröder, Sociologist
-
James Gregory Atkinson, Artist
- Hawo Abdulle, Community organizer
- Kai Logarić@veganrebell, Queer activist
- Latifah Cengel, Journalist
- Moderated by Hadija Haruna-Oelker
An event organized by ISD Frankfurt in cooperation with jugend-kulturkirche sankt peter, the U.S.Consulate Frankfurt and Bildungsstätte Anne Frank.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 18:00-20:00
DIVERSITY IN DIPLOMACY
Hybrid Panel discussion
Livestream on YouTube and Facebook.
In English.
The U.S. Embassy Berlin continues the Diversity in Diplomacy series with a panel discussion consisting of U.S. Mission foreign service officers and diplomats of the Auswärtiges Amt Initiative Diplomats of Color.
The panelists share their experiences of being a part of the foreign service and why they chose to become diplomats. They contribute to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in their missions, thereby working to ensure that future generations receive equal opportunities to join the world of diplomacy – regardless of race, gender, sexual identity or economic status.
Panel Discussion with
- Keynote speaker, Darion Akins, U.S. Consul General Hamburg
- Moderated by: Salman K. Khalil | Political Officer/Human Rights Officer
- Aron Mir Haschemi, Head Task Force for Organizational Development, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Marcel Baptiste-Humuza, Africa Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union
- Latifat Hassan,Family Nurse Practitioner U.S. Embassy Berlin
- Carly S. Ros – Political Officer U.S. Embassy Berlin
- Jamaal Williams Customer Service professional, U.S. Embassy Berlin LE staff member
For more information please register via e-mail: BERLINPA@state.gov