Published Works
Surviving My Nazi Kin
Author: Marta Kappl
Date Published on HerStry: September 24, 2020
Format: Essay
Overview
In this powerful and poignant memoir excerpt, the author shares her experiences growing up as the only Black child in post-Hitler Germany, enduring pervasive racism from family members and society at large. With unflinching honesty, she recounts the cruelty and abuse she suffered, as well as her struggle to navigate her identity as a biracial individual. Despite facing countless obstacles and traumatic events, she emerges as a survivor and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Not Just a Southern Problem
The Confederate Flag in Northern California
Author: Marta Kappl
Date Published on Medium: August 1, 2020
Format: Blog
Overview
The author, a woman of color, shares her experience of encountering the Confederate flag in Northern California. She had signed a sublease with a winery in Yountville, but when the building's owner found out she was a woman of color, they tried to evict her and rent the space to a wealthy French wine producer. Despite fighting back with legal action, she ultimately lost her livelihood and savings. During the dispute, she was targeted with racially coded threats and followed by a truck flying the Confederate flag, reminding her of the symbol's purpose as one of intolerance and hatred.
Why I’m Fearful of a Religious Government
Author: Marta Kappl
Date Published on Medium: February 25, 2023
Format: Blog
Overview
In this personal account, a Black woman shares her deep-seated fear of a religious government, drawing on her own experiences growing up in Germany under Nazi rule. She reflects on the current political and religious climate in America and the recent overturning of Roe vs. Wade, warning that merging powerful political and religious powers can lead to devastating consequences. Drawing on her own experiences of exclusion and abuse, she warns against the dangers of a culture of surveillance and the potential for religious fanatics in government to wield unchecked power. This powerful reflection on the dangers of religious extremism and authoritarianism serves as a timely warning for us all.