2 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
Where I grew up after WW2 a lot of Polish people were told to move there and the Germans had to leave for them. And until today a lot of people still hold a grudge for it. To be fair: it may have been a loss for both groups. It was a very swampy area and not much workplaces around. It was one of the shit holes of Germany. Not because of the war, but because of the geography. This mostly is a problem to the old folks.
. I had my first German partner break up with me due to their parents’ disapproval of a relationship with Pole. Certainly have not heard similar things about POC as
Oh sweet summer child. A guy from Poland (or other east Europeans) would have been fine for my dad, but someone from Africa? Or the middle east? That would never ever happen. He would have beaten the shit out of me. This is was a common point of view.
Then my granny (dutch) would have said I am no longer her family when I would date a Moroccan.
By simple saying people have a problem with eastern Europeans, it is way too easy. Most people have a problem with those who don't integrate. Speaking german is part of it. And don't running fulldrunken through the village.
In our village (different from above mentioned) there are 4 types of Eastern Europeans:
People also regularly treat me like a zoo animal for being a Cambridge-educated Pole
People would already look at you like a zoo animal because you have been from Cambridge. This is something very special. Not like "hey she was at a university in Münster" Cambridge is viewed very elitist, and something only very rich people would think about. Take it as an award, not as something bad. A German telling me he was at Cambridge would get some looks too.
Comment by Watt_Is_Love_ at 19/07/2021 at 10:46 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Yes, resettlement affected all, not just the Germans - my family comes from the current Western Ukrainian territory, yet I have never set foot in there because after the war we’ve been resettled, our lands and property were appropriated, the land was handed over to Ukraine and there was nothing to come back to. Polish people were only “compensated” in the West for what was cleaved from us to the East. Take it up with Churchill, Warsaw didn’t make those decisions.
I have never said that POC would not face similar issues regarding discrimination by potential family in law - I am sure they would. All I am saying is that I faced those as well. As for integration, learning a language takes time - surely that can be understood. As for drunkenness, well I assure you not every immigrant is a drunk.