The second Afro Fair attracted about 500 people to the Schwanenhalle in the Römer on the weekend of September 9 and 10. The all-day fair offered discussions as well as workshops, for example on the topic of "Effects of experiences of racism on the psyche". In addition, various panels dealt with volunteerism, opportunities and challenges in self-employment and strengthening diversity.
The fair is a platform where civil society actors, artists and entrepreneurs from the black and Afrodiasporic communities are represented and network. It is supported by associations such as the Kone network and the association Maisha.
Mayor and Diversity Department Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg also addressed the inadequate reappraisal of German colonial crimes in her words in her welcoming speech: "The traces of history must be much more visible in our city. So that people also become more sensitive to the colonial continuities in our present." He said it still happens that People of Color are disadvantaged and are not treated with the same respect and regard as white people. "This must not be allowed to happen," Eskandari-Grünberg stressed.
That's why fairs like the Afro Fair are important, Eskandari-Grünberg emphasized: "They are a space of empowerment and resilience. A space where self-confidence is strengthened. Where you are inspired to see yourself as a shaper of the future. Where contacts are made and ideas exchanged. And last but not least, a safe space where no one feels left out or alone. Because our city needs such spaces more than ever."
