History

In 2021 the idea to have a European wide event was born. In spring of 2023 the first Young Giftde Black Europe event was held. Uniting Black youth from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switerland, England, Austria, Greece, Finland and Hungary.

Young Gifted Black Europe has its origins in an annual German event hosted by the Initiative of Black People in Germany (ISD). These multigenerational national meetings have been held once a year for almost 40 years. It is the largest event of the Black community in Germany. In 2016, the voices of Black youth and young adults became louder. Wishing for an independent event with rooms exclusively for young Black people.

Between 2017 and 2019, and under the the name Young Gifted Black, these spaces for exchange, networking and empowerment were created at different locations in Germany, each for four days. The organizing team consisted largely of Black youth and young people. The meetings were organized in cooperation with the ISD and Each One Teach One (E.O.T.O.).

During the meetings, there were joint plenary sessions and workshops on topics including: Rap, Poetry, Stencil & Anti-Racism, Black History, Mentoring offers, Racial Profiling, hair, sexuality, dance workshops and more. These spurred further initiatives, such as safer spaces for queer and dark skinned people that were created at the last meeting in 2019.

The YGB then emerged as the first meeting of its kind in German history that we know of - self-organized & for Black, African and Afro-diasporic young people. This is a success and paves the way for the next steps.