Anti-Racism Workshop

Due to given social developments and necessities, the Prorectorate for Academic Careers and Equal Opportunities has set itself the task of taking a look at structures in which - regardless of individual intentions - racism can be institutionally reproduced. The aim is to initiate a long-term process critical of racism and participatory, which will make it possible to change structures at the University of Cologne in such a way that inequalities of opportunity are reduced. Within the framework of the Critique of Racism Workshop, current problem areas in relation to structural racism at the University of Cologne are to be identified in a processual manner and needs for action are to be developed. It is planned to establish working groups and networks that will deal with the identified problem areas and/or measures in the subsequent process.
As a result of the workshops, the task force Anti racism, which deals with identified problems and actions, was launched in 2023.

If you are interested in participating in the workshop and being informed about its progress, please write to us at: rassismuskritikverw.uni-koeln.de

On June 19, 2024, the 4th Workshop on Criticism of Racism took place at the Cologne International Forum. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Prof. Dr. Habbo Knoch from the Historical Institute of the University of Cologne for his lecture on provenance research and to Halima Kamara, B.A., Ethnology for presenting the decolonial audio tour. We also wish to thank all other participants for the exchange and networking and look forward to the next opportunity.

Descriptions of the lectures:

The University of Cologne possesses a large number of collections. On behalf of the Rectorate, a project group led by Prof. Dr. Habbo Knoch has examined the origin and use of objects preserved there for possible implications related to colonialism and National Socialism. What role does provenance research play in teaching and research at the University of Cologne? The presentation will showcase the findings. Prof. Dr. Habbo Knoch has been teaching Modern and Contemporary History at the Historical Institute of the University of Cologne since 2014.

Halima Kamara (she/her) is a bachelor student of Ethnology and Media Cultural Studies. In various contexts—from the BIPOC Department at UzK, to the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, to current involvement in the Anticolonial Space—she engages with various issues surrounding decolonization, (anti-black) racism, and power critique. As part of the seminar "On the (Im-) Possibility of Decolonizing Ethnology" under the supervision of Annika Benz, Halima conceptualized an audio tour that addresses the past of the university, especially the ethnological institute. This tour will be presented as part of the workshop.