Why do people keep saying that Australian people are not racist?

Question

.. when a number of them quite evidently are. A few months ago I went on this site to enquire about going to Australia for a holiday and I was concerned about doing so as I have been told that I would get a hard time as I am Black. Lots of people said "oh no you'll be fine" and "it's not like that at all"... and then to my surprise [not] I see this article on Yahoo today
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/14112006/325/england-players-racially-abused-australia.html

To be honest that sort of behaviour is pretty disgraceful.. and I believe that the country as a whole has issues with minorities, even Laurence Fishburne stated that he felt a sense of unease when he was filming the Matirx in Australia
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987601694.html
http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2003/05/04/1051987597602.html


so Australians please stop denying that there is a lot of racism in your country..

Why... I've booked a holiday to New Zealnd in June 2007... totally bypassed Australia!!!

D - I do look in my own back yard and I have had no personal problems with racism in the UK otherwise I would not live here. I can walk through the streets without being looked at and without people making comments!!!

"yusdz" why do people jusitfy racism in Australia by saying "well it's in every part of the world"... so Australia has to follow suit does it???

"ilovealan" I wou dnot konw about the KKK as I AM BRITISH AND NOT AMERICAN!!!!

"ilovealan" I'm sorry but many Australians who visit the UK and whom I have met have told me thast your country is racist andif Blacks/Aborigines are racist towards you I am certain it is as a result of the years of oppression they have experienced!!!

Answer 1

I so agree with you. I don't know if it's because they are geographically placed away from the world (and so close to Asia) that's made them that way or that they need more black migrants and another generation to open their minds up. What's funny is how you'll *never* hear an Australian calling the Aboriginals Native Australians when that should be the actual term. Before any Australian gets defensive again I'd say go travel first.

Answer 2

There is so much about Australians being racist on this site. I am a New Zealander living in Australia. Personally I am sick of those stupid sheep jokes. We have a big farming industry, no need to jelious. Most of the people on the Aussie show mcleods daughters are from NZ. I agree, they are racist against the Japanesse. Ha! Melbourne's mayor is Asian. They mock him like crazy with the 'Lets Wok.' He doesn't care, they voted for him in the first place. I can't inderstand it, but Australians seem to find it funny to mock people. They even have things aginst other states. The elections, all the candidates are saying what is wrong about other partys. I want to hear what they will bring into the country! Not who they hate. I am sick of the racism agains other people (it's a multi cultural nation,) and the rudness. Go to New Zealand, the scenery is amazing there! I'm not just saying that because I come form there. I have travelled around Australia and NZ, and NZ's scenery is much better. Many Australians will admit this.

Answer 3

Racism and Australians. Interesting subject.

The white Australians have treated the Aborigines apallingly throughout the country's short history, and this continues even to this day. The defence for the poor treatment of the Aborignes is that they are lazy and habitual drug/alcohol abusers. The reality, of course, is that the settlers have vastly changed the country the Aborigines considered their own for the larger part of their history, and their own culture makes integration with "western ways and values" very difficult. They are traditionally hunter-gatherers, who place little value on ownership or permanent residences. Little wonder they have integrated so poorly.

As white Australians see the Aborigine fare so poorly in the urban/western developed society, they have formed a poor view of them, and they are often considered outcasts of society. The Australian policy towards the Aborigine has been directly comparible with the earstwhile South African aparteid policy.

There are very few Afro-Caribean black people in Australia as most immigrants have tended to come from either Europe or the Far East. As such, most Australians have very little exposure to black people other than Aborigines who they don't understand.

As a young nation, Australia is made of of people whose families orignated elsewhere, and you often hear people describing themselves as a second generation, or third generation Australian. In general, Australians are very un-racist towards Europeans and Asians as these make up large sections of the population, but for the reasons described above, this attitude is often not extended to those of darker skins.

Answer 4

While some areas of Australia have a racist element, they are by no means the majority. Don't judge everyone by a few people. Should I say all Americans are racist because you have the KKK?

Also, let me tell you there are plenty of Black racists here too, so don't be acting all high and mighty on that score. We have always brought up our daughter to see different skin colours as akin to different hair colours but how can we do that when there are some aboriginal parents who refuse to allow their kids to play with her because she's white?

As for calling them native australians, there are two reasons why we don't do that. Firstly, they call themselves Aboriginals, not native Australians. Secondly, they may have been here longer than the whites, but they aren't native to Australia. They came from overseas and wiped out the original inhabitants.

The whites attempted Genocide. The Aboriginals succeeded.

As for the article about the actor from the matrix, he said there was no malice. Just because he didn't see any other black faces, doesn't mean we are racist. Where did he go? Most of the aboriginals live in the northern half of Australia. Perhaps he would have been more comfortable here?

If he feels uncomfortable in a room full of white people, the racism is on his end not ours. If I were to say I felt uncomfortable in a room full of black people, I know what kinds of names I'd be called.

People are far too quick to scream the racist tag these days.

Answer 5

Why should this come as a surprise, look what happened to the Aboriginal people,now the poorest minority in Australia.
But Australia is not unique every country is rascist, day after day on this site there is at least one question bordering on rascist from a British person.
America still has an apartheid society, they just don't advertise it anymore.
There are race riots in Paris because immigrants are now living below the poverty line.
So Australia is not unique and its inherent rascism should come as no surprise

Answer 6

Australians are known as not racist and very hospitable, it is a new country with multiculture. Many of my friends living there with ease and pleasantness. Your case may be some of the rare incidents. Wish that you don't care much about other people's attitude, then you will receive smiles for your friendly smiles.

Answer 7

Well i can only speak as i find .In 2002 i went to Australia with my wife . went for 3 weeks ..everyone bent over backwards to help us and show us a good time .I must admit i wasn't to keen on going ,i can be quite fiery person.and the first bit of nonsense i found i would of jumped on it .There was not a hint of it .I only had one bad time .But it wasn't because the guy was racist he was just a dick .I can't wait to go again

Answer 8

In reference to the fist link (cricket) ...It's called sledging.
All countries teams, INCLUDING Pakistans and Indias are guilty of this.

Australia is one of the most multi-cultural countries in the world, second only to Israel (pro rata). For pure numbers, however, it is number one.
Australia is also in the top 5 safest and most livable countries in the world.

You have a better chance of being punched in the mouth for being an idiot, than for being a foreigner in Australia.

Why you are singling out Australia, is the real issue!

Look in your own backyard first.

Answer 9

i know a few auzzies and they are really down to earth and not in the slight bit racist, but i think where ever you go there will be racism around, but you cant tar everyone the same otherwise you will be as bad as them!
go to oz im sure you will have a cracking time! dont let small minded people stop you from having a great hol!x

Answer 10

Bulldust!

Australian's are so 'tolerant' that we have allowed ourselves to be discriminated against, by ourselves so that immigrants feel comfy in their nice new home.

Australia and her people are constantly criticised by other nations who are far more guilty than what they criticise us to be. We give away far too much and Australian's are sick of it. Many are waking up to being brainwashed into being cowards.

Remember, it is America, England and many European nations that is seeing white nationalist political parties becoming a force. Australia on the other hand, does not have one white supremecist party. Not one!

Aboriginals copped a hard time yes. Most of it was under British rule then those who ran the nation when Australian's saw themselves not as Australian but English.

Now, Aboriginals are entitled to free education where they don't pay for school uniforms, texts books, etc. This is regardless of how much they earn and yes, Australia does have wealthy Aboriginal. Most Aboriginals do NOT live in a mud hut or under a tree branch but in housing where if they damage it, never get punished. Any non-Aboriginal people damage their houses like that, they get booted on to the streets. Sounds like anti-Aboriginal policy to me. *sarcasm*

Many "white Australian's" are too scared to stand up for themselves when they are discriminated against by an immigrant or non-caucasian Australian. They fear the response they will receive from spineless politicians and sell out leftists. Yet, immigrants shout discrimination at a drop of a hat.

One note: many people visiting or moving to Australia tend to find us as rude, upfront and such. Those who move to here to live, sooner or later realise that what they are experiencing is not rudeness or bigotry(etc) but an honest opinion to the question they were asked.

It is rude in many cultures to be honest. In Australia, honesty is something to be proud of. Such people are an asset who are disappearing due to globalism and immoral political correctness.