Ines Johnson-Spain's Documentary 'Becoming Black' Explores Afro-German Identity Through Personal History

The 2019 documentary 'Becoming Black,' directed by Ines Johnson-Spain, made its debut at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and received the 2020 Best Diaspora Documentary award from the Africa Movie Academy. The narrative centers on Johnson-Spain, born in 1962 to a Togolese father, Lucien Johnson, and a German mother, Sigrid, who grew up unaware of her father's identity. After uncovering her paternity through a concealed letter, she endured bullying in 1960s East Germany. At the age of twenty-eight, she established contact with her father's relatives in Togo. Featuring commentary from scholar Fatima El-Tayeb, the film explores racism in East Germany and concludes with her contemplating her mixed heritage on the shores of Togo. This Kobalt Documentary production includes footage filmed since 2012.