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Panel Discussion: ''And We Were Germans 115th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 2nd Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Panel Discussion: ‘‘And We Were Germans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano’’ FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington: 2018 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:02 Jul 25, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 3191 Sfmt 3191 X:\_HS\WORK\29392.TXT NINA CSCESeal.EPS Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202–225–1901 [email protected] http://www.csce.gov @HelsinkiComm Legislative Branch Commissioners HOUSE SENATE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, NEW JERSEY ROGER WICKER, MISSISSIPPI, Co-Chairman Chairman ALCEE L. HASTINGS, FLORIDA BENJAMIN L. CARDIN. MARYLAND ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, ALABAMA JOHN BOOZMAN, ARKANSAS MICHAEL C. BURGESS, TEXAS CORY GARDNER, COLORADO STEVE COHEN, TENNESSEE MARCO RUBIO, FLORIDA RICHARD HUDSON, NORTH CAROLINA JEANNE SHAHEEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE RANDY HULTGREN, ILLINOIS THOM TILLIS, NORTH CAROLINA SHEILA JACKSON LEE, TEXAS TOM UDALL, NEW MEXICO GWEN MOORE, WISCONSIN SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, RHODE ISLAND Executive Branch Commissioners DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [II] (2) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:02 Jul 25, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 3193 Sfmt 3193 X:\_HS\WORK\29392.TXT NINA ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Helsinki process, formally titled the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, traces its origin to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in Finland on August 1, 1975, by the leaders of 33 European countries, the United States and Canada. As of January 1, 1995, the Helsinki process was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The membership of the OSCE has expanded to 56 partici- pating States, reflecting the breakup of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The OSCE Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria, where weekly meetings of the partici- pating States’ permanent representatives are held. In addition, specialized seminars and meetings are convened in various locations. Periodic consultations are held among Senior Officials, Ministers and Heads of State or Government. Although the OSCE continues to engage in standard setting in the fields of military security, economic and environmental cooperation, and human rights and humanitarian concerns, the Organization is primarily focused on initiatives designed to prevent, manage and resolve conflict within and among the participating States. The Organization deploys numerous missions and field activities located in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The website of the OSCE is: <www.osce.org>. ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance by the participating States with their OSCE commitments, with a particular emphasis on human rights. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine mem- bers from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair rotate between the Senate and House every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work. In fulfilling its mandate, the Commission gathers and disseminates relevant informa- tion to the U.S. Congress and the public by convening hearings, issuing reports that reflect the views of Members of the Commission and/or its staff, and providing details about the activities of the Helsinki process and developments in OSCE participating States. The Commission also contributes to the formulation and execution of U.S. policy regarding the OSCE, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delega- tions to OSCE meetings. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organiza- tions, and private individuals from participating States. The website of the Commission is: <www.csce.gov>. [III] (3) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:02 Jul 25, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 3193 Sfmt 3194 X:\_HS\WORK\29392.TXT NINA Panel Discussion: ‘‘And We Were Germans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano’’ FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Page PARTICIPANTS Dr. Mischa E. Thompson, Senior Policy Advisor, Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe ...................................................................................................................................... 1 John A. Kantara, Director, ‘‘And We Were Germans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano’’ ................................................................................................................... 2 [IV] (4) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:02 Jul 25, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 3193 Sfmt 3193 X:\_HS\WORK\29392.TXT NINA Panel Discussion: ‘‘And We Were Germans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano’’ February 20, 2018 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington, DC The briefing was held at 2:00 p.m. in Room 121, Canon House Office Building, Wash- ington, DC, Dr. Mischa E. Thompson, Senior Policy Advisor, Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, presiding. Panelists present: Dr. Mischa E. Thompson, Senior Policy Advisor, Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and John A. Kantara, Director, ‘‘And We Were Ger- mans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano. ’’ Dr. THOMPSON. Good morning. My name is Dr. Mischa Thompson. Welcome to ‘‘And We Were Germans,’’ a briefing hosted by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. This event is taking place in honor of Black History Month. For those of you who may not know, the Helsinki Commis- sion is an independent U.S. Government agency focused on human rights, economics, and security in the 57 North American and European countries that make up the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE. The commission is chaired by Members of Congress, bicameral, bipartisan, and includes the executive branch. The OSCE has had a focus on diverse and vulnerable populations, from Roma and Jewish populations to national minorities and migrants in Europe and the United States, since its inception. Over the past decade, our commissioners have also focused on the situation of people of African descent in Europe, or black Europeans, from hearings in the U.S. Congress to resolutions in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. You can find a report in the blue folder that details many of these initiatives. Now, central to those efforts has simply been raising awareness about Europe’s long history and contributions of African-descent populations, from the Moors in Spain to present-day migrants and refugees. We are, therefore, very pleased to be screening today a film that is both American and European history, on two luminaries: Hans Massaquoi (1) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:02 Jul 25, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 3194 Sfmt 3194 X:\_HS\WORK\29392.TXT NINA and Ralph Giordano. We are also thankful that Dean Jacqueline Jones and DeWayne Wickham of Morgan State University in Maryland were able to facilitate the participation of the film’s director, Professor John Kantara, in today’s briefing. Professor Kantara, we’re just really pleased that you’re able to be here today. Mr. KANTARA. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Dr. THOMPSON. You can find Professor Kantara’s bio in the blue folder and online. And he will also be here with us to discuss the film and what is currently happening over- seas immediately following the film. And so, without further ado, we will present now ‘‘And We Were Germans.’’ [The film ‘‘And We Were Germans: The Life of Hans-Ju¨ rgen Massaquoi and Ralph Giordano’’ is shown.] Dr. THOMPSON. So one of the things I meant to say in the beginning is this is not an easy film to watch. If anyone has been to any other commission briefing, I think we’re known for actually playing films that address very difficult subjects, but with the goal of really bringing attention to events that are taking place, and this idea toward moving toward solution. So, with that, I want to turn to Professor Kantara and just begin by asking you: Why is that you even decided to make this film? Mr. KANTARA. Well, basically, it was by coincidence. In 1997, I went with a group of black German youth to Chicago. And somehow the German cultural institution Goethe Institute got wind of it, that we were coming to Chicago, to Northwestern University, and trying to develop a black German African American cultural exchange program. And what happened is they invited us to come to the Goethe Institute and have a little reception. And Hans Massaquoi, a Chicagoan, came to that reception. And we had an older man, a black German with us. And these two older gentlemen then were talking to each other. And, I said, who’s this? And so I basically came and eavesdropped a little bit—journalist, you know. And I got to know that he was actually from Hamburg. And so I got to know Hans Massaquoi a little bit. And he told me that he was planning on his autobiography. And then I said, okay, if you write that autobiography, I’ll make a film about that. So I was the first one— [laughs]—to ask him. And he said, okay, let’s do it. And then I did. That’s why I did the film, because he came out with his autobiography, ‘‘Destined to Witness’’ in—first pub- lished in German, and a few years later in English as well. And it was great. It’s been a running success in Germany. And we got to convince a couple of editors that we must write that book with that access.
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