Berlin’s Senator for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination, Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), took part in the opening ceremony of the new Black Communities Centre in the Afrikanisches Viertel in Wedding. The project aims to give Black people a stronger voice by promoting visibility, participation, exchange and education of persons of African descent.
The space is unique in Germany, home to over half a million people of Sub-Saharan African descent. Addressing their struggles, including racism in its current forms and the legacy of Germany’s colonial past, is a central goal of the centre. A library, community groups and a counseling service are among the measures planned to tackle this goal.
The realisation of the project cost €10.5 million and was financed by the state, the federal government and lottery funds. Sponsors and stakeholders explained that their goal was to create a safe space for Black people and to give them more of a voice in the public discourse.
