Racism and discrimination in Munich

As a non-white American woman living in Munich since 2001, I have experienced a fair bit of racism and discrimination in this country – some intentional and some non-intentional – yet these situations never fail to baffle me. I mean, wealth in Munich is reasonably evenly distributed and given that so many Germans travel, and have, in addition, been to my country as well as even to the multicultural city I'm from, not to mention are of an comparatively educated background and generally claim to be social-minded and liberal compared to most Americans.

And along the years, I've come to realize that Germans have an uncontrollable, inherent impulse to blatantly stare at me like I must have winning lotto numbers burned into my face, which, while is disturbing, I have learned to ignore, yet since my ethnic background is not that obvious, I get also automatically spoken to in broken English and get asked if I’m from: Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Peru and once even Palau, which I found amusing. Not only do I speak fluent German and I even have German ancestry.

It sucks to always be reminded that people notice the color of my skin all the time.
In fact, it’s much more than annoying. Especially when I get approached by pudgy, pasty, extremely unattractive German sex tourists who insist they’ve met me before in a seedy bar along Khe San Road in Bangkok.

Just curious to see if anyone has experienced anything similar and I simply want the relief of knowing that someone else out there can totally feel my pain.

Talk to me.

can't say I notice the staring much but thats usually because I ignore people in the street etc, but the staring has been metioned a number of times on TT so I'm not sure it is colour related.

That said, I can well imagine you encounter intentional and unintentional racism in Munich/Germany

charming I'm sure

I wouldn't be so quick to call German staring racist or discriminatory. Staring is what Germans do, no matter what color you are.

My girlfriend, who is as white of an American as can be, went crazy the first few months living here with being stared at all of the time on the U-bahn or whereever. She's learned to ignore it, but that is what they (Germans) do.

Especially if they hear the slightest bit of English come out of your mouth or notice that your fluent German has a strange accent. I'm fluent too, but still get the stares from strangers when I speak German, and I'm a white, American dude.

Anyway, don't be so quick to consider it racism or discriminatory.

yeah, it's dumb. I'd like to think people stare because I'm cute, but, probably not...

the thread about Germans staring

It must be an uncomfortable feeling, but germany is so homogenous that you probably stick out a bit - but that doesn't necessarily mean in a bad way. People as a rule tend to notice things/people that deviate from the routine.
Or just stare in u-bahns as a rule (gotten used to that)
I remember being at a party and being the only light haired (non-hispanic, non-black, non-"non-white") person at a wedding reception in the states years ago - people definately stared, wondered what I was doing there. They kept looking to see which guy brought me (I was really there with a girlfriend though) It was uncomfortable though.

I think you should have a word with all the Turks here. On the one hand, I think Germans may not be as exposed to the realities of multiculturalism in the same way as someone living in Paris or London would be;it's often way more difficult walking the walk than talking the talk.

On the other, maybe you're just being super-sensitive...

You may as well update your profile because now we know you're female

People also stare at me sometimes, but not because of my skin colour. Just grin and bear it, the same thing happens to a "white" person between "black" people, it's just human nature and you can't change it.

German staring has been the topic of many threads. I'm not sure it's racist. I'm a white young American but they are always staring at me. It bother me when I first moved here then I got use to it and didn't notice it much. I moved back to the states for 5 months. Now I'm back and I notice it all the time again.

they stare at anyone, they're not fussed what colour you are (it drove me bonkers at first, as well)
and yeah, they try to talk to you in english, even if your german is way way better - just answer them in german, that's what I do (except at TT events, obv)

Believe me, I know when it's just staring, and when it's staring because I look different.
I've lived here long enough and am well integrated.
I wish it wasn't the case, but spend the day with a group of women of color and ride the U-bahns, hang out in bars, and go shopping. You'll see what I mean.
I'm not saying it's intentional, I'm just expressing that it's annoying.

I'm a black american and I lived in Germany for 8 years. I didn't notice the staring thing so much mainly because I tend to ignore most people when I'm out and about and just mind my own business. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it as a figment of people's imagination though. It can be a little bit more unsettling being a non-white person living in Germany and being stared at than a white person. Especially given the racist history of Germany.Sorry but that's the truth.

I am white and very German-looking, my man is black. People do stare when I'm out and about alone, and it's weird. But, it is nothing compared to the stares and looks we get when we go out together. You are not hyper-sensitive. It is real. I don't know that it's hateful in any way, but it is certainly there.

I am not here long enough yet and I am just starting to be able to babble in German. But if anyone stare at me on the U-bahn, I stare back. stare and stare and stare until they turn away.

Yeah, i can totally imagine that. if you were at a wedding of someone on my ma's side (the non-white part) of my family, the same might happen, which might be funny at first, but becomes uncomfortable.
But the food would be worth it, though.