Black Austrians: A Tale Of Racism And Resilience

Racism against Black people in Austria is a prevalent issue, with a 2023 study by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights finding that Austria and Germany are the two worst countries in the EU in terms of race-based discrimination. 72% of respondents in Austria reported experiencing discrimination in the past five years, with Black people feeling most discriminated against when looking for work in the country. This is reflected in the experiences of a Black woman living in Austria, who describes moments of pride in her Blackness and African identity, but also moments where she felt she wanted to crawl out of [her] skin due to looks of disgust and experiences of direct racism.

Discrimination when looking for work

Austria has laws in place to prevent racial discrimination, and the government has expressed its commitment to tackling it. However, people of African descent in Austria still face significant discrimination when looking for work.

According to a 2023 study by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), 59% of respondents reported experiencing discrimination when looking for work in Austria, the highest figure out of 13 EU countries. This is despite anti-discrimination laws in the EU since 2000. Overall, 45% of respondents across the 13 countries said they had experienced racial discrimination in the five years before the survey, with the figure rising to over 70% in Germany and Austria.

Young people and those with higher education are the most affected by racial discrimination in the job market. The FRA report also found that people of African descent are more likely to be overqualified for their jobs and to be on temporary contracts.

Austria's labour market policy strives to avoid all forms of discrimination based on ethnicity and race, with workers being admitted based on labour market policy criteria, irrespective of their ethnic origin or nationality. However, in practice, ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in the police force and other areas of employment.

Austria's Federal Constitution and legislation are based on the principle of equality for all people, and the country has ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Austrian Constitution also guarantees free access to schools and teaching in the mother tongue, which is considered a good example of affirmative action.

Despite these measures, racial discrimination in employment remains a significant issue in Austria, with people of African descent facing barriers and biases that hinder their equal participation in the job market.

Racial profiling by police

Austria has been criticised by Amnesty International for institutional racism within its police force and other parts of its criminal justice system. In a report titled "Victim or Suspect: A Question of Colour", Amnesty International documents cases of racist abuse and ill-treatment by Austrian police, as well as the failure of the broader criminal justice system to treat migrants and members of ethnic minorities without discrimination.

The report found that non-white Austrians are more likely to be suspected of crimes and ill-treated by police. Their grievances are also less likely to be promptly and thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators are less likely to be brought to justice. Amnesty International is concerned that the majority of complaints of police ill-treatment by members of ethnic minorities are met with an inadequate response by the police force and the judicial system. Complaints are not properly investigated, police officers are seldom prosecuted, and sanctions are light.

In a 2023 study by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Austria ranked first in discrimination by the police out of 13 EU countries. 53% of men and 24% of women surveyed said they had been stopped by the police in the five years prior. Overall, 58% of respondents said that their most recent police stop in the year before the survey was a result of racial profiling.

In 2020, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) issued a report on Austria, stating that accounts of ethnic profiling by the police, particularly against Black and Muslim communities, continue to be reported. The Austrian government's reaction was largely one of denial. According to a report by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), Austria ranks highest among all EU member states in terms of the mistrust of law enforcement bodies experienced by persons of African descent.

Several cases of police brutality and murder of Black people in Austria have been documented. In 1999, Marcus Omofuma, a 25-year-old whose requests for asylum had been denied, was physically restrained and bound to his seat with adhesive tape during his deportation to Nigeria. He was gagged, his breath was severely restricted, and he died during the flight. Three years later, the three police officers responsible for his death were convicted of "negligent homicide" and served only eight months in prison.

Another case involved Cheibani Wague, who lost his life in 2003 at the hands of six police officers, a medical doctor, and three ambulance workers. Four years later, the doctor and one police officer were convicted and sentenced to seven months of suspended prison time. In the second instance, the police officer's sentence was reduced to four months, with the court reasoning that the officer had behaved according to their training and therefore could not be held responsible.

Other cases include Ahmed F., who was killed during a drug control operation by the police in 1999; Richard Ibekwe, who died in custody; 19-year-old Johnson Okpara, who jumped out of a window during an interrogation in a juvenile detention centre; and Edwin Ndupu, Yankuba Ceesay, and Essa Touray. Mike B., an African American teacher, was severely beaten by Austrian police in a case of mistaken identity but did not die.

Housing and poverty

Vienna, Austria's capital, is known for its high-quality social housing. Over 60% of the city's 1.8 million inhabitants live in subsidized housing, and nearly half of the housing market is made up of city-owned flats or cooperative apartments. The city's commitment to keeping these homes in public hands has been critical to its success, allowing it to regulate rents and ensure affordable housing for its residents. The beauty and attractiveness of these buildings have also helped prevent them from becoming social ghettos, as they are desirable to the middle class as well.

The history of Vienna's social housing can be traced back to the 1920s and 1930s when the city's government invested in providing quality housing for the working classes. This continued to be a priority for the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) during the "Red Vienna" period until 1934, with the aim of creating a more equitable society. Even earlier, in the 14th century, there is evidence of Africans in Austria, such as Angelo Soliman, who was enslaved by Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein and interacted with prominent figures like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Despite Vienna's impressive social housing system, Austria is not immune to issues of poverty. In 2020, the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the country increased by 57,000 people, bringing the total to 1.5 million. This rise in poverty followed a period of decline in previous years.

In terms of the Black experience in Austria, individuals have shared their encounters with racism, stereotypes, and microaggressions. Black people make up a small proportion of Austria's population, with only about 40,000 Black individuals out of a total population of nine million. This can lead to feelings of isolation and a need to seek out a sense of community. Additionally, Black individuals in Austria may face challenges in finding hair care products and certain cultural foods that cater to their specific needs and preferences.

Education

Austria has implemented a number of measures to prevent discrimination in education and ensure free access to primary and secondary education. The Austrian Constitution guarantees free access to schools, and teaching in the mother tongue is offered. There have been efforts to recruit bilingual teachers, and specialist training is provided for teachers. Local education authorities have received advisory instructions to recruit bilingual teachers. The University of Graz is running a project on the Roma language and dialect and has recently brought out a dictionary, which will soon be available in schools.

The Austrian government has also funded a scheme where victims and witnesses of national socialism (Nazism) in the first half of the 20th century visit schools, give lectures, and share their memories. Around 450 lectures are given per year by 20 volunteers to approximately 20,000 pupils. Schools also organise regular visits to war memorials and concentration camps.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education funds cultural events such as a recent Hip-Hop music festival, which inspires children and helps with integration. There is also an improvement in the success rates of enrolling Roma children into schools through a tutoring system run by local organisations and associations, which are subsidised by the Ministry of Education.

Despite these efforts, there are still concerns about institutional racism and discrimination in Austria's education system. For example, there is a lack of German language skills among some students, and issues with ethnicity and race, which can create barriers to enrolment.

Microaggressions

Austria's black community is estimated to number around 40,000 people. A 2014 study revealed that around half of Austria's black population has been abused or racially harassed in the past year, and many people with dark skin feel discriminated against in the country.

In addition, Black people in Austria often face racial profiling and police brutality. A report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) noted that accounts of ethnic profiling by the police, particularly against Black and Muslim communities, continue to be reported. The Austrian government has largely denied these allegations.

Furthermore, Black people in Austria may be denied access to restaurants and bars, and may not be made to feel welcome in these establishments. They may also face discrimination in the workplace, with colleagues, clients, and supervisors making racist statements or attacks.

The media and public domain in Austria have also been criticized for portraying Black people in a negative light, contributing to the perception of Black people as "foreigners." This perception has a negative impact on the lives of Black Austrians, as it reinforces otherness and discrimination.

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