As a migrant kid with parents who spoke okay English but often let their daughter write and sign her school permission notes, there was a downside of growing up and not being white and Caucasian.
There was often a feeling of exclusion.
And if I was given some recognition, it wasn’t always for the right or positive reasons.
But that was Australia back then. Who and what did I have to help depict my ethnicity but also my true blue Aussie-ness?
The closest thing to cultural diversity on 70’s Aussie television was ‘Kingswood Country’ – A “comedy” about a grumpy, bigoted baby boomer, Ted Bullbit who would habitually make racial digs at his Italian “wog” son-in-law.
Anyone remember that show?
Anyway, fast forward to the second decade of the 21st century and hey, we’re finally making progress.
#Comedyvsracism was an event organised by the City of Sydney and All Together Now – the only national charity dedicated to erasing all forms of racism through education and conversation.
My best friend B, the master of event planning is a volunteer at All Together Now and helped put the whole shin dig together.
She asked me if I could be the official Tweeter for the night. How could I say no?
My finger tips were fired up with a social issue so close to my heart.
The panel of speakers weren’t just culturally diverse but also came from all different professions – writers, a playwright, a lawyer, a university lecturer…
What can comedy do about every day racism?
What conversations do we need to have as Australian audiences, comedy makers and the media?
And can we laugh while we’re having them?
ABC radio personality Jennifer Wong – whip smart and witty – was the perfect MC. (She is also all sorts of awesome for taking the “Nawww” photo of me and B).
So much insight and hilarity in the one room.
Sitting in the back, soaking the energy from the panelists and the audience, I was in the zone, doing my best to turbo Tweet. I even had to shoo B away when she came to see how I was doing. Let the Phantom Tweeter do her thang!
Head over to Twitter, look up #comedyvsracism and see how the night went. While you’re there, why not follow All Together Now?
It’s one step closer to having that conversation on how we can eradicate racism in the workplace, schools, parliament, in this great culturally diverse country of ours.
Ever experienced racism? Know someone who has? Ever heard Jennifer Wong on radio?
1. Follow With Some Grace.
2. Sign up to the awesome Digital Parents community ( if you haven’t already done so). DP was created by Brenda Gaddi who happens to be the creator of FYBF. She’s also created 4 gorgeous kidlets. In case you’d like to know. Or maybe not. But we’ll share that info just the same.
3. Add your post URL to the FYBF linky. Please only link up one post.
4. Grab the funky FYBF button and post it on your sidebar. Help spread the blogfloggin love.
5. Visit the blogs of your fellow FYBF’ers and share the comment love
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I did experience some minor racism at school due to me attending Saturday school to learn more about my parents’ culture and language which we did speak at home instead if English.
Ingrid @ fabulous and fun life recently posted..18 Easter Inspired Makeup, Chocolate & Fruit Gifts
I’m amazed at some of the stuff that goes on – my friend who was born here, and of Egyptian decent is a doctor, and she was at the art gallery and the security guard yelled at her about her bag, and then to make amends said “It’s hard when you don’t speak English”. She was so stunned she just said nothing….which sometimes I think is how they get away with it.
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This looks like a great night. Well done to your besty for organising such a successful event to help stamp out racism. I personally, haven’t experienced racism (bullying, yes, racism no) but was very aware of it in primary school.
What a wonderful event with such an important message and high five to you for tweeting like a boss. I think every step we take to stamp out racism is a good one.
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid recently posted..She’s So Inspiring – Jayde Leeder
Good to read about this night and its success, Grace. It is such a challenge to ‘get’ society to accept what IS. Despite all the work done in school,s workplaces and community in general, ‘appearance’ continue remains a barrier to full acceptance. I am very disappointed to say. Steps taken in the right direction here that is for sure. Denyse
Denyse whelan blogs recently posted..Pecking Order. 366/71.
It’s so important to keep talking about it, isn’t it? If you’re someone who isn’t discriminated against then you could quite happily waft through life pretending discrimination never happens. It needs to remain visible for things to change.
Bec @ Seeing the Lighter Side recently posted..Love, Violence & Suicide – Like I Can Love – Review
I’m a middle class white Australian so I’ve never experienced racism. I’m so sorry that you have! I had not heard of All Together Now, I’ll definitely check them out!
Amy @ handbagmafia recently posted..Without My Mum by Leigh Van Der Horst
I have never experienced anything like this as I hope I have never dished it out (as a child I can’t really remember) I went to a multicultural school and I do remember having friends from a all back grounds and thought this was normal.
Natalie @ Our parallel connection recently posted..To every mother with boys
Congrats to Brenda and the team for organising such a successful event. And go you, turbo tweeter Grace!
Kirsty @ My Home Truths recently posted..10 ways to care for the carer
Sounds like a great even and although I find it crazy that in our so-called multi-cultural, modern society we still have to make anti-racism a ’cause’ the reality is there is still too much ignorance out there. With our kids adopted from China we have experienced racism – not the worst kind, but the subtle ignorance that still insults. Overall it has been good though.
Kathy recently posted..The good C words
Sounds like a great event with a very important message. Well done to your friend for organising it … and great tweets too!
Erika @ Ever-changing Life of a Mum recently posted..Living life as polar opposites
Even as a European Aussie I experience racism as a child (and even light-hearted jibes as an adult) so I can only imagine what it is like for those from many other cultures. I’ve been lucky enough to live in many multi-cultural communities so it’s tough to think that so much racism still goes on.
Bronnie – Maid In Australia recently posted..Re-discovering Brisbane – With My Teens
I’m glad things in Aust are improving and such open conversations about racism are happening more and more.
Did I tell you that I used to live in Aust a few years as a toddler? I was quite young then but my sisters were in school and they had very bad experiences of racism .. I didn’t have such bad ones when I went back there for Uni in the early 2000s, but just a few small incidences.
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I love you. That is all.xx
Congrats on being involved in such a great conversation starter.
Yay for you, the master Tweeter..
And B for organising a great event for all our children and our children’s children. x
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I do remember Kingswood Country . . . and I remember as a kid, I loved it!! WHY? I have no idea, it is just awful looking back on it. I did grow up in the country so probably starved for entertainment on one of our two TV channels. Thanks for the link-up!
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This is so cool Grace. And being the Queen Tweeter is going to look soooo good on your CV! Make sure you put it on there …
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit recently posted..Day 2339 – How to handle rejection
All Together Now sounds like a great gesture towards making our society more egalitarian. Being a white female, I haven’t experienced racism, but the stories of those who have break my heart.
What a fabulous event and well done on being the official twitterer. I’m rather late to the blogging linkup party this week. Finally at midnight, I’m playing a little game of catch up.
Raych aka Mystery Case recently posted..On the Beauty Case | HoMedics Skin+ GIVEAWAY
That’s great that the event happened and that you were able to tweet through it. As a white American, I haven’t endured racism, but have seen it. No one is less important than anyone else based on skin color or religion. It’s a conversation that needs to happen more frequently.
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I have never personally experienced racism but my mother’s (white, caucasian) married name is VERY Dutch. When she was pulled over by a policeman once for speeding, she handed over her license, he looked at her name and asked whether she needed an interpreter.
Robyna | The Mummy and the MInX recently posted..How to re-purpose corporate clothes
Looks like you had a fun night Grace
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