Abstract
Robert Stemmle's film "Toxi" explores the challenges faced by Afro-German children in 1950s West Germany as they search for a place to belong in a society where most people look different from them. This essay examines their search for a home while considering the lingering effects of fascist ideology. Through a close reading of the historical, economic, and sociocultural state of West Germany in the 1950s, I examine key scenes in the movie that address the search for a Home for Toxi, while also analyzing society's reaction to her as seen in the Film. Central to this analysis is the titular Toxi, whose presence in the Rose household generates the themes of Identity, Tolerance, belonging, and inclusion. The concept of "home" is critically examined through the film's depiction of various spaces, including the Rose family home, the children's home, and the symbolic "homeland" referenced in a poignant children's song. The essay argues that while "Toxi" attempts to address the issue of belonging for Afro-German children, it ultimately presents a problematic solution by suggesting Toxi's reunion with her African American father in the United States as the ideal outcome. I show in this essay that the perfect home for Toxi is not based on familial relations but one that was created and chosen.
Recommended Citation
Babayeju, Temitayo O.
()
"The Aesthetics of Belonging and Longing for a Home in Toxi,"
Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture: Vol. 10
:
Iss.
1
, Article 2.
Available at:
https://trace.tennessee.edu/vernacular/vol10/iss1/2