Movie revives debate about racism in Germany

[peasant]

Günter Wallraff as black

For 40 years the writer and journalist Günter Wallraff uses disguises to write books and produce films. In his latest work, it shows the discrimination faced by an African refugee in Germany.

The German journalist Günter Wallraff wants to open a debate on racism in Germany through his film Schwarz auf Weiss (Black and white). "You can evaluate each company by how it reacts to foreigners," defines it.

 

In the documentary, which debuted in late October in German cinemas, Wallraff traveled across Germany disguised as Kwag Ogonna, a Somali refugee naturalized German. Equipped with a mini camera and a microphone, he calls attention to racism in everyday life.

 

A film crew accompanied the author in the distance. In Cologne, he failed in an attempt to rent an apartment. In Cottbus, was insulted by football fans. When he tried to settle permanently in a camping, their request was rejected.

 

 

From a group of hikers in bars and he had to hear phrases like "monkeys in Africa, Europe for whites," or "You're a nigger." The aversion against blacks, he faced both the west and east of the country, left him "very impressed," Wallraff said the press. He intends to show the documentary to the fans of Dynamo Dresden, considered radical right, and discuss with them, Wallraff said during a debate in a cinema in Berlin.

 

Divergent reactions

 

In recent decades, the writer has again and again crept under false identity, in companies or underprivileged sections of society. Among the roles he played are a temporary worker Turkish, a reporter for the tabloid Bild, bum, arms dealer and employee call center, subjected to extensive work hours. In their reports in disguise, he recounts the terrible conditions in which these people must live and work in Germany. Günter Wallraff is considered a legend.

 

Reactions about their new project are different. One of the main points of criticism is that Wallraff goes undercover to places or regions where the reactions of racism or discrimination are expected. "Whether it's cheerleaders in Cottbus, in groups of tracks in Gummersbach or simply on any street, Wallraff searching all the time people who do not want it, and aversion of these documents into images of infinite solitude," says the newspaper taz.

 

The conservative newspaper Die Welt goes further and accuses him of opportunism, "Wallraf dress and makeup as a straw man to pose as a Somali, which already has something tasteless and perfidious. He is a cheap imitation of those people, he can only see as victims of racism, and uses them to create bizarre things. "

 

"Investigative journalism the old"

 

 

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:

'A piorzinho Borat'

 

Stern magazine says "a piorzinho Borat", and criticizes the fact that, in the current film, Wallraf not have given voice to the real hit. "He should have asked for African and German descent living in Germany to make the trip across the country, he should have interviewed them, and then showed their experience, instead of appropriating the experience as Somali costume."

 

Even so, no doubt about his latest project, the author drew attention to attention to racism in daily life and revived the debate in Germany. "Without Günter Wallraff, the subject would never come back to the channels of debate. While there are people who doubt that racial discrimination is still part of everyday life in the country, someone like Günter Wallraff helps clarify" published Stern.

 

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeiner Zeitung, Wallraff's work "remains surprisingly current" and praised the return of investigative journalism the old-fashioned.

 

MN / ff / dpa

Review: Augusto Valente

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4827472,00.html

[5]

An investigative journalist disguises himself as a Somali and takes the name Kwag Ogonna. What is wrong with this sentance?

[N.O.R.F]

^

 

I have always found Germans to be the friendliest of Europeans :confused:

 

Really feel for those who are new to the EU and don't have that support network.

[Sherban Shabeel]

Kwag Ogonna? lmfao

[muhsin.max]

Wallraff traveled across Germany disguised as Kwag Ogonna, a Somali refugee naturalized German.

 

lmao

 

He should have chosen a proud Somali name like Pirate Nomad.