Echte Geschichten statt Bilder im Kopf I Folge 2: Summer Cem

In the second episode, Cem Toraman, better known as Summer Cem, who was born in Mönchengladbach in 1983, speaks about his childhood in the working class, facing financial hardship and his parents' desire to give him a better life. While his parents worked tirelessly to support the family, he forged his own path early on, pursuing school, university, and music. Summer Cem speaks openly about experiences of exclusion, being turned down for apartments with the excuse "we don't rent to foreigners," the pressure to take responsibility for his family, and the reality for many children of Turkish immigrants who had to learn the meaning of sacrifice at a young age. At the same time, he talks about his determination and perseverance, and how a teenager from Mönchengladbach became one of Germany's most successful rappers—from a student teacher at the University of Duisburg-Essen to numerous international and national hits. But this episode is about more than just music, success, or a distinctive voice. It's about identity, belonging, and the feeling of growing up between two cultures. Summer Cem talks about why he sees himself as a German-Turk, why Germany is just as much a part of him as Turkey, and why people with Turkish immigrant backgrounds have been shaping Germany for decades. That's precisely what this documentary is about: not talking about people, but letting them speak for themselves! Instagram AY YILDIZ: @ayyildiz_de TikTok AY YILDIZ: @ayyildiz_de Instagram Summer Cem: @summercem AY YILDIZ: Gülten Yildirim Agency: Vivalu Production: Chunky Panda, Baris Aydinli