Pan-Africanism is hard work. I learned that quickly this summer. When we are engaging with someone from the diaspora that has lived in a very different context than you, it is easy to misunderstand each other. We are often inundated with news from outlets that do not understand the complexity of life as a Black person. So trying to understand each other through these news outlets is very messy. To be ready to engage in Pan-Africanism means not assuming that you know how systems function in areas outside your lived experience. I learned this lesson while still in the U.S. and it worked wonders in Germany: never feel pressured to offer thoughts on a topic you are not educated on.
On my last day at EOTO, I looked up from my desk and took in the sites of my coworkers. And then it hit me: I have never been part of an all Black staff before. Not only was everyone Black, but they had strong morals that I agreed with. It felt like a dream even though we did not come from the same background. This summer was also my first time working at a non-profit. To be honest, I did hold some initial worries going into the fellowship because of some horror stories people have shared online and in real life about the nonprofit burnout. Luckily for me, Germany seems to have a better work-life balance. It also helped that my coworkers encouraged me to not overwork after all the time I put into AFROLUTION.
From my first to my last task at EOTO, it largely seemed to revolve around AFROLUTION. My only critique of the festival was that I did not feel as though African Americans were seen and heard in the festival. Aside from myself, Fred Moten was the only African American guest speaker. (Some guests were _____-American, but emphasized that they were just a _____ living in America.) I understand that the U.S Empire constantly imposes itself into other people’s narratives, but I do not believe that is a reason to diminish what African Americans went and continue to go through under that empire. If EOTO would accept it, I am thinking of a possible panel or activity around African American activism for next year’s AFROLUTION. To add to the already growing EOTO library, I am brainstorming books from African American authors and theorists that could be added.
As I return home, I am hoping to do something with the research that I did this summer. Two months is a long and short time at the same time. In terms of my research, it was on the shortened because AFROLUTION occupied my days in the beginning of the fellowship. I can imagine myself coming back to Berlin or another city in Germany one day—not to live for a long time!—but possibly for graduate school or more research.
Taken by me as I was leaving EOTO on my last day.
As some people at EOTO told me, Berlin is increasingly becoming a European tourist spot. I am happy that I was able to live there before it become too touristy and crowded! As more tourists come and more people choose to live there, I think Berlin will undergo some changes in the coming years. Until I return, I cannot wait to see what changes, hopefully for the better. One thing is for sure: Black people will still exist and take up space no matter how Berlin tries to erase them.
Thank you for this reflection. You learned so much this summer, from how to organize a literary festival to how unreliable the media can be in depicting the lives of Black Germans AND African Americans to how to use on-line translation tools effectively…so much more to learn. I hope this launches you into further research. (I know that’s the plan.) Thanks for making this such a successful experience for everyone.
Yes, only good things are ahead!