In Nazi Germany, anyone who didn’t fit the Nazi image of the “perfect race” was persecuted. This included Jewish people, Black people, Homosexual people, those with disabilities, gypsies, and many more. All of these people were either imprisoned in forced labor camps treated worse than cattle, or outright murdered in cold blood.
In order to consolidate their power, the Nazis used those who were “different” as a scapegoat for all the country’s problems, from a countrywide scale to a household issue. While it started with derogatory comments in speeches and the media, it slowly built up to the extremes we now recognize as the Holocaust.
The internet and social media gives people an easy way to spread misinformation. This not only marginalizes the suffering of Holocaust survivors, it also stops us from actively trying to stop another Holocaust from occuring.
The Holocaust started with minor discrimination and escalated to concentration camps and gas chambers. By learning about the Holocaust, we can understand how saying or doing something minor can eventually become a reprise of the Holocaust. No form of discrimination is okay.
Starting conversations is one of the most important steps you can take to combat discrimination. Take a look at our list of curated resources, designed for all ages, to get involved.
Take an active role in spreading information on the Holocaust to stand against discrimination. Go to our Take Action page to see what you can do to help.