Rafid Kabir has been creating content on political and civic education on TikTok and Instagram for five years. In his videos, he addresses topics such as racism, antisemitism, discrimination and other socially relevant issues. In addition to his work as a content creator, he also supports digital campaigns, projects and funding initiatives in the field of civic education. For the Education Agenda NS-Injustice, he presents selected projects and topics on Instagram and TikTok.
1. What is your personal motivation in working as a civic educator and content creator and in advocating for democracy and combating antisemitism, racism and discrimination?
I advocate for democracy because it is currently coming under enormous pressure, especially in Germany. For me, democracy is much more than just elections and rule by the people. It means upholding the rule of law and individual freedoms, and above all protecting minorities. That’s why I believe it’s so important to raise awareness of racism, antisemitism and discrimination. We know from history that hatred, incitement and hostility often increase in times of crisis. I’m originally from Bangladesh and have experienced hostility myself. That makes it all the more important for me not simply to sit back and watch these developments in Germany but to try to reach people, raise awareness and take a clear stand. After all, what ultimately matters is for us all to be able to live together in freedom and safety, and that’s exactly the principle of an open society that I want to strengthen through my work.
2. You’re currently presenting selected projects from the Education Agenda NS-Injustice on TikTok and Instagram. Which project impressed you most and why?
To be honest, that’s quite a difficult question to answer because I found all the projects interesting in their own way. What particularly impressed me was to see how creative and modern memory culture can be, and how it can offer a perspective on the future, too. That’s why I found the theater projects particularly powerful. The Frankfurt History App and the digital atlas on NS crimes (NaziCrimeAtlas) also left a lasting impression because they present history in a new, accessible and very contemporary way.
3. How do you perceive the reactions to your videos about the Education Agenda NS-Injustice on TikTok and Instagram?
The reactions are very mixed. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback, especially from people who are involved in commemorative work themselves or who became aware of some of the projects through the videos in the first place. But there have also been comments that downplayed the topic or distracted from memory culture. I found that unfortunate, but also telling, because it shows how much polarization and social tension there is at the moment and why this work continues to be so important.
