This story breaks my heart. Workers from Mozambique - “Madgermanes” - fled Germany in the 1990s due to horrifying levels of neo-Nazi violence. When they got home, they were denied years of back pay by their government. Many died in poverty. voland-quist.de/wppb_works/mad…
https://twitter.com/Heimatkunde_HBS/status/1438839488378281987
The story of the Madgermanes (above) is so grim since it gives the lie to the argument that, if you are a migrant who just works hard and keeps your head down, you can make a life for yourself. They were hounded from their homes. They were never forgiven for wanting quiet lives.
I have been thinking a lot recently about scenarios in history where the surrounding social and political forces were just so overwhelming that, no matter how kind and resourceful you were, you were absolutely doomed: and about how we can stop those future scenarios from arising.
I have realised that a lot of the things I will write will just be pointing out the obvious. Trying to get people with reasonably comfortable lives to imagine themselves - ourselves - in scenarios where there is no way out, and how unfair that is. But the obvious is underrated.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
