There’s this one prevalent issue in this society that never fails to set me off emotionally. I always start to choke up inside and most times I need to bury my head in my hands with helplessness.
But it gets to my heart and the essence of my soul because it’s been an obstacle that’s hurt me, and my family too many times during our journey of adjustment in making Australia our home. It’s something that I earnestly pray that my boys will never experience. That they will always feel that they belong here.
And this morning, Mr Surfer innocently brought it up: Racism.
My husband just happened to be talking about this week’s SBS Insight program, “I’m Not Racist, But…”
Of course he didn’t mean to upset me. He simply mentioned some of the covered topics that spoke to him – mainly of the past racist views people have had here in Australia. And you see, anything do with the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s combined with racist Australia always cuts me. Always.
This is the way to start a process of digression for me. It brings up memories of isolation, bullying, prejudice and hardship.
Anyway, yesterday afternoon, with it being Harmony Day – a day to celebrate and take pride in our diverse Australia – I decided to watch the re-run. I held my breath, worried for the anticipated tears and emotion.
But, I’m so glad I watched it.
The main discussion was about whether racism is genetic. Whether we’re all hardwired with some sense of prejudice as a form of perhaps, protection. What is the unknown to us, we stay cautious, we steer clear away from. We make no effort to actually make that unknown – whether it be the cultural or religious aspect of another group – to change it into the known and educated realm of our own safe environment.
Here are some facts that were raised:
* Australians today make up of 250 ancesteries and speak 400 languages
* In 2011 a survey conducted over 2,000 people found that 25% have a negative attitude to Muslims
* 3 million Australians speak another language in their home besides English
* Statistics show that in 2007, 9% of Australians experienced racism. In 2011 the number increased to 14%.
* The Australian government is spending 1.7 million dollars on an Anti-Racism Strategy
Suffice to say, I don’t think we are born racist. Not even partially. I simply don’t buy it. To accept that argument leaves the door dangerously open for complacency. As we can easily say we’re a society that doesn’t tolerate racism, then surely it starts with eliminating any excuses for it. Completely.
I sit here, worried sick that my boys will be facing it. So, I’m going to do all that I can in my own power as a mother and member of society to ensure that they learn how to respect others from different backgrounds as much as I will teach them to be proud of their mixed heritage.
They’re going to understand and spread the story of how their Indonesian grandparents worked so hard to earn a spot for themselves, their own children and their children’s children…as true blue Australian citizens.
I admit, this isn’t the most articulate of my posts. But it was important for me to hammer something out during Cultural Diversity Week (March 17 – 25).
Sometimes it’s not so much about writing for the sake of it. But to speak out what’s burning in my heart. To reach out and have people and friends understand where I’m coming from.
P.S If you’re interested, SBS Two is running another rerun of Insight on Friday 7:30pm.
Deb @ Bright & Precious says
But Grace, you have been articulate! I love what is burning in your heart. As you know, it burns in my heart too. I am so glad you wrote about this. I can feel your ache for your boys. Nothing more amazing than a concious protective mother. I managed to catch the end of the program, so I’ll be keen to go back and watch the beginning now. I’m with you, I don’t believe it is hardwired in us. I think its a convenient hate that appeals to fear. So let’s bring our children up to not have fear, to be secure, to be empathic and loving.
By the way, I think it’s ironic that the government is spending those millions on an Anti-Racism strategy when they are guilty of racism (or bowing to it) themselves with their asylum seeker policies… but more of that another day!
Fantastic post, Grace! x
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mamagrace71 says
I was somewhat annoyed with that 1.7 million dollar fact as well, Deb. It’s like the government trying to hide their insensitive, uncaring approach with the asylum seek policies by throwing it over with an “empathetic” blanket, or something.
We have a long way to go…but I’m going to stay optimistic that we’ll get there…
Ai Sakura says
my family went to live in Australia for a while when I was much younger.. too young to go to school but my sisters did and sometimes, my mum would tell me how they were bullied just because they are Asians. Getting their hair pulled, bras unbuckled, desks moved around etc. Luckily they were strong girls and stood up for themselves too. Even outside in the stores, mum remembers some incidents of racism. Makes me feel so sad..
I went over for Uni and thankfully by then, I did not really encounter any. Just one at the supermarket but maybe it’s because there are so many Asians now that it’s less prevalent.
I do hope your boys grow up without feeling the hurt from being prejudiced against. But even if they do, I know they will learn the life skills from you on how to deal with it 🙂
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mamagrace71 says
Ai, I’m so sorry to hear what your sisters went through. But I’m glad to hear about their strength.
I really don’t think they do enough in schools to educate our children – our future – about the ramifications of racism and how important it is to embrace other cultures and ethnic groups.
But I’m even happier to hear that despite all of what your family went through, you were still keen to do uni here and that by the time you experienced life here, there were significant changes to our society.
Veronica @ Mixed Gems says
An interesting post, Grace. I didn’t know the show is on but I’ve found it via SBS online and will take a look at it tomorrow. I also found the lead in site that included the IAT (Implicit Association Test) used to gauge “hardwired” racism and other prejudices. I immediately had problems with the fact that the race related tests were between black and white or Aboriginal and white. What about other ethnic groups? I also did the Aboriginal test and had problems with some of the word questions because they require you to make a value judgement about the definition of certain words like “bad” or “better” (I wish I could remember the rest) that I was not comfortable with. One of the questions was “The situation in the society of today would be improved if troublemakers were treated with reason and humanity.” Who are the implied troublemakers? A person of a different race? An actual criminal? Asylum seekers? The other issue I have about the tests is that they assume when you look at a picture of someone who looks black or white, that this is what they are classified as. What about mixed race people who look more black or white. The test assumes one or other from the outset.
Personally, I do not accept that racism is hard-wired. There is research to show children don’t notice difference in people till about 3 years old and above. Up till then and obviously onwards, the attitudes of parents are a significant influence on how a child perceives and manages difference. I’ve seen documentaries about racism in the USA and how extremists raising their children for the klan teach their children to hate non-whites.
I don’t want my girls to experience racism as they grow up either. I want to be sure they accept difference and treat people as equals. I’ve even bought a couple of books about this and keep my eye out for others, though there are few in the Australian context. It’s a complex issue. I don’t believe we can be “colour blind” but that does not mean we need to be racist, biased or prejudice. How we see ourselves and how society sees us is a big thing for me as I see that affecting my girls the most as they grow up.
I think I’m rambling, maybe even ranting, so I’ll end here. Thanks for raising this issue.
Veronica @ Mixed Gems recently posted..I’m not here today
mamagrace71 says
It’s interesting to read what you thought of the test. There was one girl on the program who was shocked with her results, that said she was “moderately racist”. Her reaction was that she knows in her heart of hearts that she’s not. And then the social psychologist went on to explain that to get a “moderate” result is…okay and is actually the standard result. How can it be “okay” ???!!!
I noticed on Twitter that SBS were encouraging followers to take the test. Hmmmmm….
I’d be interested to hear more about the books you’ve bought or the ones you would recommend…
Bridget says
I agree, it’s not hardwired – it’s a learned behavior. So it really is up to mothers and fathers to raise children free of racist views in order to stamp it out. Good on you for not letting your pain get the best of you.
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mamagrace71 says
For years, I think I’ve just been carrying the pain of the past and just accept certain behaviours of our society. But now I have children, that puts things in a completely different dynamic.
Kirrily says
I agree it is learned. I really appreciated this post, Grace. Not articulate? Pish-posh!
I’d like to chat to you about something that happened here at home – words from my own child’s mouth that caught me and her father so on the back foot that I felt quite affronted! They were innocently spoken (she stated a fact) but I was interested in my own reaction to her saying the words and also wondered where that unconsciously came from. Sorry for being cryptic! I’d much rather chat face to face about it than go into it here. Hopefully one day we can?
xxx
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mamagrace71 says
That’s okay for being cryptic, Kirrily because I get the gist of what you’re trying to say 🙂 Let’s definitely have a chat when we meet up…next week! Next week !!! Squeeee ~~
ava says
It is learned. As parents we have to be very careful in our words and actions. Being different shouldn’t be a problem. As usual, full of heart this post is Grace-ie. Happy weekend!
ava recently posted..Learning English
mamagrace71 says
Very true, Ava. What our children learn and shape into, comes from us ! Hope you’re having a great weekend with your beautiful family too ! xxx
Tat says
Veronica has a point – children don’t notice the differences and even when they do, it’s just as a matter of fact (my kids commented once that our neighbour had a black face), not in a fearful or ‘I’m better than you’ way. Which goes to show that racism is learned.
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mamagrace71 says
I understand it when children point out an observation or just something they happen to notice. And I guess because they’re vocabulary is still limited, they’re not aware of the particular sensitivities or subtle terms that we’re suppose to use. So yes, I agree with you, Tat. Racism is learned.
jean says
What is the Aussie govn’t’s anti-racism strategy to spend over $1 billion dollars? Meanwhile wasn’t it Aussie govn’t that changed their immigration policy to favour English-speaking immigrants or those who could prove it to get to Australia? Canada maybe going this route to ostensibly address a temporary worker shortage in specific industries.
I don’t agree with that evolving strategy but just change the residency requirements to encourage people to learn English and provide funding support for ESL programs. Canada’s population is aging quickly with lower natural birth rate (like alot of Western and European countries) and so we need motivated, hard working immigrants from world-wide. Many will learn English to survive, believe me they will.
I think the reality is that half-Asian or half-black children are bound to sense the attitudes because they are aware at least 1 parent is non-white. And if they don’t look at all abit Asian, people will say stuff openly.
We can only hope that they will rise and speak out against it….in the honour of their interracial parents.
From a Canadian born daughter of 2 immigrant parents. Aunt of 7 nieces and nephews from 3 sisters, of which 4 children are half-Chinese.
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Jean says
Oops, I erred: so Aussie govn’t is spending over $1 million. Anyway, do your children know/see your parents often? I believe it’s important that interracial children are around their non-white grandparents and relatives –alot. This begins them very early and naturally in life, to become accustomed to simply hanging around alot of non-whites and participate, if there are linguistic and semi-cultural differences vs. the European (Caucasian) side.
My nieces and nephews learn to drift around some relatives (living in the same city) who speak only Chinese but not feel too isolated, etc. nor ‘threatened’. (Some people are fearful just to be surrounded by people for long time, speaking a language that they don’t understand.) So important…later how the children feel towards the ancestral culture of the non-white parent and indeed, the whole non-white side of the family. And it helps enormously in making their fused identity by placing the children directly and in a safe environment of family first, before the hard reality of strangers, etc.
It takes a long time in my opinion, for a white spouse to truly understand the natural benefits of just simply being white and how much subconscious thinking there is (wrongly) on their automatic, social elevated status one assumes when living or travelling in countries that have been colonized or are non-European. They may not be fully aware of their status until they realize this over various experiences later on with or without their family members around. Your children will thank you if you start this from babyhood onward.
There are alot of blindspots that a white person does not initially see.
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Maria Tedeschi (Mrs M) says
Definitely not hard wired. My eldest is 11 couldn’t care less about people’s background. I suffered through racist crap right up into my teens school. Even by a girl who was born in England, migrated to Australia when she was five weighed in on the argument “is Maria Australian?” The fact that I was born here didn’t have much weight. The fact that my parents were migrants did.
I used to wish that in Australia we would use terms like they use in the US – “Italian-American, African-American etc” It might still be differentiating between different races but still included them as being part of America. Whereas here ‘Australian’ was only for the Anglo Saxons and I was always Greek.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
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mamagrace71 says
I say I’m “Indo-Ausssie”, mixing up between different races because hell…that is what I am. But Veronica made a great point in her recent post saying for her it’s about ethnicity rather than race. Which made me think about my boys. I mean, how will they describe themselves ? “My mum’s Indo…” just doesn’t seem to cut it for me..
Emily says
Great post (and I agree with Deb – it’s plenty articulate!!). Thanks for linking back to this in your post today. I think many Australians are racist. And the ones who deny it all the more strongly are the ones most likely to say ‘but…’.
Loved this line: ‘As we can easily say we’re a society that doesn’t tolerate racism, then surely it starts with eliminating any excuses for it.’ SPOT ON.
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