Initiative of Black People in Germany

The Initiative of Black People in Germany (German: Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland, ISD) is a nationwide network and registered association (ISD-Bund e.V.) founded in 1985. It is one of the oldest self-organizations of and for Black people in Germany. Its headquarters are in Berlin, and it operates through local ISD groups in several German cities, with more than 200 active members according to French Wikipedia. The organization works for the rights and political participation of Black people, against institutional and structural racism, and for a comprehensive reckoning with German and European colonial history. The ISD emerged alongside the Berlin-based ADEFRA e.V. – Schwarze Frauen in Deutschland, in the context of research for the landmark book "Farbe bekennen" by Katharina Oguntoye, May Ayim and Dagmar Schultz, which is credited with launching the younger Black movement in Germany. In 2001, ISD-Bund e.V. was founded as the umbrella association for all local ISD groups, functioning since then as a network federation. Its work includes empowerment training, political education projects, and events such as Black History Month and an annual national gathering (Bundestreffen) that brings together hundreds of Black people. Campaigns and projects include "Tear This Down" (with the Peng! collective), mapping colonial traces in German public space; "Empower Activism," supporting Black activism and community projects; engagement with the UN Decade for People of African Descent; and the Berlin campaign "Ban Racial Profiling." The ISD has published the anthology "Spiegelblicke – Perspektiven Schwarzer Bewegung in Deutschland" (Orlanda Verlag, 2015) for its 30th anniversary and initiated the exhibition "Homestory Deutschland" with support from the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. Known members and associates have included May Ayim, Katharina Oguntoye, John A. Kantara, Theodor Wonja Michael, Sharon Dodua Otoo, Tahir Della, Hadija Haruna-Oelker, Tupoka Ogette, Simone Dede Ayivi, Victoria B. Robinson, Austen Peter Brandt and Awet Tesfaiesus. The ISD describes itself as part of a broader Black community alongside other NGOs, initiatives, associations and projects, and demands an unequivocal anti-racist stance across all policy areas, from education and residency and citizenship to asylum legislation.

The Initiative of Black People in Germany (Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland, ISD) was founded in 1985 and is one of the oldest self-organizations of and for Black people in Germany. It emerged at the same time as the Berlin-based ADEFRA e.V. – Schwarze Frauen in Deutschland. The emergence of these movements is linked to the extensive research carried out for the book "Farbe bekennen" by Katharina Oguntoye, May Ayim and Dagmar Schultz, in which Black women of different generations documented their past and present in German society. The publication of this groundbreaking book is credited with launching the younger Black movement in Germany. The ISD notes that socially relevant activities by Black people in Germany existed long before today's initiatives; for example, in the 1920s Black workers, trade unionists, artists and colonial migrants came together to advocate for their rights and life plans. In 2001, ISD-Bund e.V. was founded as the umbrella association for all local ISD groups and has since functioned as a network federation. The association brings together local groups active in several German cities and, according to French Wikipedia, has more than 200 active members. Its headquarters are in Berlin. Over the decades, the ISD has carried out a range of actions against discrimination in all its forms. "Tear This Down" is a joint project of the ISD and the Peng! collective that aims to map colonial traces in public space throughout Germany. "Empower Activism" supports Black activism and community projects in Germany. The association is engaged in the framework of the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent. The Berlin campaign "Ban Racial Profiling" demands that the government prohibit racial profiling by law; within this framework, the ISD took part in a demonstration in July 2020 in Stuttgart calling for an end to police stops based on appearance targeting young people of foreign origin. In 2015, on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary, the association published the anthology "Spiegelblicke – Perspektiven Schwarzer Bewegung in Deutschland" with Orlanda Verlag. It also initiated the exhibition "Homestory Deutschland" with the support of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education). Sandra Folie's book "Afro-deutsche Frauen in Bewegung: Von May Ayim bis Black Lives Matter" has also indirectly given visibility to the association, reconstructing the history of the Black movement in Germany and mentioning in particular May Ayim's activism and the birth of the ISD. Known members and associates include May Ayim (poet, founding member), Austen Peter Brandt (Protestant pastor, staff member), Tahir Della (advisor for anti-racism and decolonization, formerly member of the federal executive board), Hadija Haruna-Oelker (author and journalist, former member of the federal council), John A. Kantara (director and professor, co-founder), Theodor Wonja Michael (actor, journalist, official of the Federal Intelligence Service and contemporary witness of National Socialism), Sharon Dodua Otoo (author, former member of the federal executive board), Katharina Oguntoye (author, founding member), Victoria B. Robinson (journalist), Simone Dede Ayivi (author and director), Tupoka Ogette (author and anti-racist trainer) and Awet Tesfaiesus (lawyer and member of the Bundestag for Alliance 90/The Greens). The ISD's publications include "Spiegelblicke – Perspektiven Schwarzer Bewegung in Deutschland" (ISBN 978-3-944666-23-5), the "Homestory Deutschland" exhibition catalogue (ISBN 978-3-942885-66-9) and a young readers' edition for the exhibition. The organization continues to work for the rights and political participation of Black people, against institutional and structural racism, and for a comprehensive reckoning with German and European colonial history.

• 2020

  Participated in a demonstration in Stuttgart as part of the "Ban Racial Profiling" campaign.

• 2015

  Published the anthology "Spiegelblicke – Perspektiven Schwarzer Bewegung in Deutschland" for its 30th anniversary.

• 2001

  ISD-Bund e.V. founded as the umbrella association for all local ISD groups.

• 1985

  ISD founded as one of the oldest self-organizations of and for Black people in Germany.

A nationwide anti-racist self-organization and advocacy network for Black people in Germany, working intersectionally for political participation, decolonial reckoning and social justice.

• 2015

  Spiegelblicke – Perspektiven Schwarzer Bewegung in Deutschland

• Homestory Deutschland – exhibition catalogue

• Homestory Deutschland – young readers' edition

1. 1Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland - ISDisdonline.de
2. 2Über uns - ISDisdonline.de
3. 3Initiative of Black People in Germany - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland - Wikipedia (French)fr.wikipedia.org