Black People's Experience In Austria: Prejudice And Beyond

Racism against Black people in Austria is a significant issue, with the country ranking second out of 13 EU countries in a 2023 study on racial discrimination. According to the survey, 72% of respondents in Austria reported experiencing discrimination due to their skin colour, origin, or religion in the previous five years. This issue is deeply rooted in Austria's history, with Black people facing social and economic challenges throughout their presence in the country. While the Afro-Austrian community continues to grow, with an estimated 40,000 Black individuals living in Austria in 2010, mainly in the Federal Capital, they often face exclusion and discrimination in their daily lives.

Discrimination in the workplace

In Austria, the Equal Treatment Act (Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, GlBG) is the primary legislation that addresses discrimination in the workplace, covering both direct and indirect discrimination. The GlBG prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation, and disability. Separate regulations, such as the Disabled Persons Employment Act (Behinderteneinstellungsgesetz, BEinstG), provide additional protections for employees with disabilities.

The Federal Equal Treatment Act (Bundes-Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, B-GlBG) applies specifically to civil servants and employees of public authorities and state-affiliated companies. Additionally, various provincial equal treatment laws govern employment relationships for provincial and municipal employees.

In the event of discrimination, individuals have several remedies available to them. They may be entitled to compensation for personal detriment suffered, and there are additional sanctions for specific types of violations. For example, if an employment relationship is not established due to discrimination, the individual may claim damages. If discrimination occurs in connection with professional advancement, the individual is not entitled to the advancement but can receive compensation. In cases of discrimination related to remuneration, voluntary social benefits, or other working conditions, the affected employee is entitled to the difference in remuneration or the respective working conditions.

Austria has taken steps to address discrimination in the workplace through legislation and non-legislative measures. However, a 2022 survey by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found that 76% of respondents in Austria with sub-Saharan African origin or at least one parent born there had experienced discrimination based on skin colour, origin, or religion in the previous five years. This highlights the ongoing challenges and the need for continued efforts to eradicate discrimination in the workplace.

Police discrimination

In 2023, Austria ranked first in a survey of 13 EU countries for discrimination by the police, with 53% of men and 24% of women surveyed saying they had been stopped by the police in the five years before the survey. This is part of a broader pattern of racism in Austria, with 72% of respondents reporting discrimination in the country.

Austria has a history of racial discrimination, with Africans and people of African descent being treated as servants and slaves and rarely having opportunities for social advancement. While the country was never an official coloniser, it did benefit from colonial trade. As a result, Black Austrians have historically been marginalised and excluded from the nation's history.

In recent years, the number of racist attacks in Austria has increased significantly. A survey from 2012 found that around 50% of people of African descent in Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck felt discriminated against and experienced racial abuse or harassment in public. This is supported by a 2022 European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey, which found that 76% of respondents in Austria had experienced discrimination due to their skin colour, origin or religion in the previous five years.

Despite this, Austria is actively working to combat racism and xenophobia. The country is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and has implemented legislation and measures to promote equal treatment and integration, such as strengthening protection against discrimination and hate crimes under criminal law. However, more work is needed to address the issue of police discrimination specifically.

Racial attacks

In recent years, the number of racist attacks in Austria has increased significantly. According to a survey from 2012, around 50% of people of African descent in Austria feel discriminated against and are racially abused or harassed in public. This is supported by the experiences of Black people in Austria, who have recounted experiences of racial microaggressions and direct racism.

One Black woman living in Austria recounted her experience of being yelled a racial slur at by someone driving past in their car. Another recounted their experience of being racially profiled by police officers, who pounced on them at a subway station, mistaking them for a drug dealer. The victim was left with injuries to their back, head, neck, hand, and wrist, and was unable to work for months. The officers involved were not suspended, and prosecutors are yet to decide whether to indict them or drop the case.

The Austrian government has been criticized for promoting anti-Muslim discourse and policies, and for failing to address rising racial profiling of Black and Muslim people, as well as the refugee population. There is currently no identifiable action plan against racism in Austria, and anti-racism advocates within civil society face alarming levels of institutional harassment and attacks.

Microaggressions

Afro-Austrians, or Black Austrians, are Austrians of African descent, specifically from sub-Saharan Africa. While the Afro-Austrian community is small, with only around 40,000 Black people in a country of nine million, they have a long history in the country, dating back to at least the 14th century. Despite this, many Austrians are surprised to learn that Black people live in Austria, and the Afro-Austrian experience is one that is often underrepresented and overlooked.

Afro-Austrians face various microaggressions and instances of discrimination in their daily lives. Here are some examples:

"Where Are You Really From?"

Afro-Austrians often encounter the question, "Where are you really from?" even after stating their place of birth. This question can be dismissive and condescending, implying that Black people cannot be truly Austrian. It reduces their Austrian identity and contributes to a feeling of otherness.

Touching Hair Without Consent

Black Austrians with braided hairstyles often experience people touching their hair without permission. This invasion of personal space and lack of respect for boundaries can be uncomfortable and offensive. The defensive arguments given by perpetrators, such as "I was just complimenting your hair," further contribute to the problem.

Suspicion and Stereotypes in Stores

Afro-Austrians are often met with suspicion when shopping in stores. They may be followed by staff or subjected to additional scrutiny at checkout counters. These experiences perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to an uncomfortable shopping environment.

Lack of Representation and Understanding

Austria has a predominantly White population, and its history and culture glorify White European standards of beauty and nostalgia. This lack of representation and understanding of the Afro-Austrian experience can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion for Black Austrians.

Discrimination in Employment

According to a 2023 study, Black people reported feeling the most discriminated against when looking for work in Austria compared to 12 other EU countries. This indicates that Afro-Austrians face significant barriers and biases in their career pursuits, hindering their economic opportunities and advancement.

Police Discrimination

Austria ranked first in the same study for police discrimination against Black individuals. Over half of the men and a quarter of the women surveyed had been stopped by the police in the previous five years. This indicates a pattern of racial profiling and discrimination by law enforcement, contributing to a climate of fear and injustice for Afro-Austrians.

History of Africans in Austria

The history of Africans in Austria dates back to at least the 17th century. The first documented African immigrant was baptised in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna in 1629. It is assumed that they were an escaped slave of the Ottoman Sultan. During the 18th century, there were around 40 African inhabitants of Vienna, many of whom were noble servants. One notable example is Angelo Soliman (1721-1796), who was enslaved by Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein. Soliman was highly regarded by the royal family for his intellectual abilities and moved in high-brow Viennese society, even sharing spaces with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

During the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, African immigration was strongly linked to economic exploitation. Africans and people of African descent became servants and slaves, rarely having the opportunity for social advancement. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the few Africans who came to Austria to study, work, or engage in diplomacy rarely stayed past their appointments.

During the era of National Socialism, negative stereotypes about Africans were prevalent, including the accusation that Black Africans were instruments of Jews. Racial policies prevented relations between members of different groups, and official discrimination was practised at all levels. Many children of mixed race were subjected to intrusive anthropological investigations to legitimise Nazi race policies.

After World War II, the number of students of African descent in Austria grew significantly, from 19 in the winter semester of 1953/54 to almost 640 in 1961/62. Some of these were the children of African-American soldiers stationed in Austria during the war, who were colloquially referred to as "war children".

In recent decades, the number of Africans migrating to Austria has risen sharply, with around 40,000 Black people estimated to be living in Austria in 2010, most of them in the Federal Capital. However, this increasing presence has not been accompanied by widespread acceptance or social integration. A 2012 survey found that around 50% of people of African descent in Austria feel discriminated against and are racially abused or harassed in public.

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