One of the most beautiful scandals of 2011: The rapper Bushido wins the “Bambi”-prize for integration
The news caused a media outcry immediately after the award presentation – how is it possible that someone like Bushido – a woman-hating homophobe – could receive this award?! We at “Routes Sucrées” agree; it is nonsense to award this prize to a reactionary puke like Bushido. But then again, an award for “integration” is itself nonsense and racist. What does integration exactly mean? Where should people be “blended in”. And who decides who has to integrate?
The year of the Kraut
In Germany, like in most countries, “integration” is seen as something important. The idea behind it goes something like: “non-Germans” should adapt to the “German circumstances and lifestyle” to enable a harmonic social coexistence. But who are these “non-Germans”? And what is a “German lifestyle” anyway?
The nation someone belongs to is random, and nothing to be smug about. Yet despite this, most people identify with “their” nation. While it may sound completely absurd, there is some “reason” why this might be attractive to some: the daily experience of powerlessness and uncertainty produces a need for power and security. This desire is satisfied by the nation: the uncertainty of the daily hamster wheel now has a broader objective, the certainty of serving something bigger than oneself. This is funny, because what good is this allegedly awesome nation for which I must tighten my belt, learn faster, and work harder? Patriotism is indeed a maniacal idea. Which is precisely why it works so well in giving “meaning” to the daily madness.
A history of violence
Obviously it is not enough to be born in Germany to belong here. Although no one exactly knows what is really “German”, it seems easy to define who is “not German”: “Black people”, born in Germany and who may have never left the country except for a holiday, are asked again and again “where they really come from”. German passport? Whatever!
Who came up with the idea to grade people according to racist criteria? Contemporary racism has a long pre-history closely connected to colonialism, enslavement and mass murder. The European ruling class tried to conquer almost the entire world, enslaving millions of people, as well as murdering them. The victims were deprived of their humanity and labeled as another race. Black people were said to be on par with apes, whereas whites in Europe were allegedly the pride of creation. It is complete and utter bullshit to grade people according to skin color into “races” or “peoples”. No one would categorize people according to eye color or thumb size in order to assign them particular intelligence or strength. Racism today is rarely spoken openly. Nevertheless it is still common, for example in police actions, which affect Black people much more often than whites. Or when people say “Muslims” are more sexist than the German majority population.
Mülticültüralism
Liberals in particular, but also many leftists, think immigration is necessary. Not only because of the demands of the labor market, but also because immigration culturally enriches Germany, which should be a tolerant country where different cultures can coexist: A melting pot of cultures. In a multicultural society those “passionate Brazilians” can live together with “fussy Germans”! But who actually says that every German is fussy and neat, even though everyone knows someone who is a bit over the top. And why would all Brazilians be passionate and temperamental? The idea of multiculturalism fixes people to their alleged culture or national identity. Instead of seeing an individual with particular wishes and preferences, people are put into pre-existing cultural boxes. This “culturalism” is nothing to strive for, unlike a life where people live according to their wishes, but is rather pseudo-tolerant “positive” racism.
Like nationalism, racism offers a simplified explanation for the insanity of everyday life. For example, racist discrimination within the German educational system leads to an under-representation of migrants who achieve an A-level or university degree. The simple racist yet obviously wrong explanation for this is: “They do not study hard enough – it must be a cultural thing”! Instead of scandalizing the systematic disadvantage of migrants, the underdogs are blamed as if it is all their own fault.
Racism in the crisis
Racism was boosted during the world economic crisis as it created an extra-high demand for explanations. Honestly, who really understands how Greece ended up in horrific government debt? Yet by blaming the “lazy bankrupt Greeks”, they are made guilty and responsible for their situation. Therefore the actual cause – the relentless competition of nations –is conveniently hidden. At the same time, this gives their own exhaustion new meaning: Although I am pissed off with everything, I go the extra mile just for the sake of knowing I am better off than “these Greeks”. Nonetheless, the ugly reality still stares us in the face – working hard and longer offers no security, much less a beautiful life.
What‘s the deal with Bushido?
In the debate on integration, nationalism and racism come together: To integrate oneself means to fulfill the demands of the nation. Work hard, make no social claims, just keep going in the hamster wheel. Those who can’t find a job, maybe not even get social welfare (Hartz IV), are at the mercy of social condemnation. Integration in this society is nothing worthwhile. Instead of turning against this insanity, people blame other people, especially migrants. And even though you might be “integrated well” as a migrant – speaking German, being employed, and fulfilling other demands – you will still often be asked where you “really” come from. No one is ever a “real German”, no matter how “well integrated”. And if you don’t fulfill the legal requirements of a migrant, you might be threatened with deportation.
Racism – a (never) ending story
German society is permeated by racism. Open racism and Berlin’s yearly “Carnival of Cultures” festival are two sides of the same coin. While some may feel threatened by “parallel societies”, the real parallel society is the German one insisting on its privileges.
Those who look “white” can travel in this country without being insulted by racists, without being asked about their religion, and without having to distance themselves from terrorists. Any anti-racist struggle must keep this in mind.
A real anti-racism doesn’t care about how “well integrated” the migrant being deported is, or how fluently he or she speaks the language. This position rejects such fundamentally racist criteria. A serious anti-racism must also question the role of the state in its function as the “ideal overall racist”. The grotesque division of the world into states and their demand for workers legitimizes and supports racism. No one will be illegal only when states are extinct, as they set the borders and divide people into legal or illegal. An anti-racist society is one where all can be different without fear.
For further reading
Campaign of „…ums Ganze“ against integration and racism
