Lyla Lindsey
Australia has a long history of exclusion and marginalization towards Black people, and the dominant Australian narrative regards 'Blacks' as Aboriginal. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in Black migration to Australia, particularly from Africa, leading to a more diverse racial landscape. Black people in Australia, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, face discrimination and prejudice, and are often stereotyped and underestimated due to their skin color. Despite these challenges, some Black people in Australia report feeling a greater sense of liberation and safety compared to other countries, such as the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Immigration from Africa to Australia | A recent phenomenon, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to Australia |
| African Australians | From diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational and employment backgrounds |
| Migration streams in 2011-2012 | Burundi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania |
| African Australians identity | Pan-African ethnic identity and a diasporic identity in relation to the perception of Africa as a homeland |
| African Australians in Victoria | 19% of young people in custody, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population |
| Racism in Australia | Africans and people of African descent face racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence |
| Indefinite detention | Disproportionate numbers of people of African descent have been categorized as unlawful non-citizens and detained indefinitely |
| Racism in schools | Many African Australian students are exposed to racist bullying with no redress |
| Social anxiety towards immigration | Not a new phenomenon in Australia, with a long history of exclusion and marginalization towards Black people and other people of color |
| Assimilation | Complete assimilation is expected for successful integration of Black African migrants and Indigenous people |
| Stereotypes | Black people in Australia are stereotyped and underestimated due to their skin color |
| Black Australians' experiences | Black Australians feel liberated and safer compared to the US, but still face discrimination and prejudice |
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What You'll Learn
Black expats in Australia
Moving to a new country is a daunting task, and Australia is no exception. For black expats, there are a number of unique challenges and opportunities that come with relocating to the land down under.
The Good
Australia has a lot to offer black expats, including a high quality of life, beautiful nature, and friendly people. Black Americans in particular are viewed as exotic and are well-received, as Australian culture has embraced American black culture. Renay Tregellas, a black expat from Brooklyn who has lived in Sydney for over 25 years, says Australia is a great place for black Americans to "live and thrive". She highlights the entrepreneurial opportunities and the fact that your skin colour is not an issue. Jazmin and Evan Wardlow, black expats in Sydney, also speak highly of the beauty of the country, the friendliness of the people, and the ease of pursuing their athletic careers.
The Bad
However, Australia also has its flaws. Black expats have reported experiencing microaggressions and racism in the country. Ashley Langham, a black woman who moved to Sydney, recounts how she overlooked the racist comments and jokes made by her Australian partner until she moved to the country and experienced them herself. Another black expat, Reis Armstrong, notes the difficulty of finding a good barber in Australia, and mentions a black female friend who struggles to find makeup that matches her skin tone.
A Complex History
Australia also has a complex history when it comes to race. While the country's indigenous people, the Aboriginals, are black, black expats have noted that they do not seem to receive the same treatment as black Americans. Australia has a history of mistreating its indigenous people, including forcibly removing children from their parents to breed out their black blood. Additionally, black people from the African diaspora have recently been making the news and raising negative public opinion. However, there are also promising signs, with young Sudanese-Australian and Ethiopian-Australian individuals standing against growing stereotypes and bringing intersectional diversity to the discussion.
Advice for Aspiring Black Expats
For those considering a move to Australia, black expats offer words of encouragement and advice. Jazmin Wardlow suggests seizing opportunities, taking a leap of faith, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and embracing different cultures. Renay Tregellas highlights the importance of staying connected with family back home through technology like FaceTime and WhatsApp.
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Indigenous Australians
The term "Indigenous Australians" has grown in popularity since the 1980s, but many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples dislike it, believing it to be too generic and removing their distinct clan and people identity. Instead, they prefer to be identified by their specific cultural group, language group, or demonym relating to a geographic area.
The earliest human remains found in Australia, those of Mungo Man LM3 and Mungo Lady, have been dated to around 40,000 years ago, but Indigenous Australians have likely been living in Australia for upwards of 65,000 years. Prior to European colonisation, the Indigenous population was small, with estimates ranging from 318,000 to over 3,000,000. At the time of European colonisation, it is estimated that there were over 250 Aboriginal languages, but now, only 13 Indigenous languages remain, with the rest considered endangered.
The arrival of British settlers in Australia led to a population collapse among Indigenous Australians, primarily due to new infectious diseases, massacres, armed conflicts, and competition over resources. Scholars have classified elements of the colonisation process as constituting genocide against Indigenous Australians. From the 19th to the mid-20th century, the Australian government removed many mixed-heritage children from Aboriginal communities, with the intention of assimilating them into the majority white culture.
In the present day, Indigenous Australians continue to face discrimination and marginalisation within Australian society. They are often treated and stereotyped in a similar manner to that experienced by Black Americans in the United States. However, some commentators have noted that Australia is still "light years ahead" of the United States in terms of how it deals with its Indigenous population, with Indigenous Australians receiving reparations and having better access to healthcare and higher wages.
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Anti-black racism
Australia has a complex history of race relations, with a range of experiences and perspectives among its diverse population. The country has seen significant migration from various parts of the world, including Africa, resulting in a growing African Australian community. However, this community has faced challenges, including instances of anti-black racism and othering.
In Australia, anti-black racism has manifested in various ways. Black individuals in Australia, including those of African descent and Indigenous Australians, have shared their experiences of discrimination, stereotyping, and being viewed with suspicion. For example, a Nigerian immigrant named Ricky shared his experience of being underestimated and facing negative assumptions about his capabilities due to his skin colour. Additionally, there have been instances of racist discourse and "racialised moral panic" directed at African Australians, particularly in Melbourne, leading to fears of racial profiling and targeting by law enforcement.
The concept of "Othering" is central to understanding anti-black racism in Australia. This refers to the construction and treatment of certain groups as "Others," which perpetuates their marginalisation and exclusion. Whiteness, as the unmarked norm, becomes the standard against which others are defined and judged, creating a power dynamic that disadvantages non-white individuals. This dynamic has contributed to the specific challenges faced by black individuals in Australia, impacting their education, career prospects, and overall well-being.
It is important to acknowledge the existence of anti-black racism and its impact on the health and well-being of black Australians. Addressing this issue requires collective efforts from government, institutions, communities, and individuals. By recognising and dismantling discriminatory practices and beliefs, Australia can move towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all its citizens, regardless of race or ethnicity.
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Stereotypes and discrimination
Racism in Australia comprises negative attitudes and views on race or ethnicity, which have been reflected in discriminatory laws, practices, and actions (including violence) at various times in the country's history. Racism against various ethnic or minority groups has existed in Australia since British colonisation.
African Australians, for instance, suffer a high degree of racial discrimination. The 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission report stated that "the five groups that experienced the highest level of racial discrimination were those born in South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ethiopia, and those who identified as Indigenous". Australia has a long history of official and unofficial racism towards Black Africans, reflected in the White Australia policy, in effect from 1901 until the 1970s, which prohibited the immigration of black Africans, among other non-White groups. Following the end of this policy, despite Australia becoming more ethnically diverse, negative stereotypes around black Africans remained prominent in Australian culture.
In Australian culture, "Africanness" is associated with a lack of civilisation, disease, dirt, war, and poverty. A strong negative association between Africanness and criminality exists, with African Australian men often identified as "towering seven feet 'brutes'' associated with "backwardness, primitiveness, danger, and crime". Blackness is a source of fear for some whites, and African Australians are constructed as a threat within the rhetoric of a "clash of civilisations". The debate around so-called "African gangs" in Melbourne led to a "racialised moral panic", causing black people in the city to fear they would be arrested simply for congregating in public spaces.
Indigenous Australians have also faced severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, suffering genocide, forced removals, and massacres, and continue to face discrimination. Almost 50% of non-Indigenous Australians believe that Aboriginal people are given unfair advantages by the government. Microaggressive remarks, such as back-handed compliments, are a form of racism experienced by Indigenous Australians.
Aversive racism can be combated by eliminating the desire to employ the time-and-energy-saving tactic of stereotyping. By priming and inducing participants' creativity, reducing participants' propensity to stereotype, and increasing intergroup contact, implicit intergroup bias can be decreased.
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Black African migrants
Australia is a country that hosts millions of migrants from different countries and continents. In the 2020 census, over 400,000 people living in Australia recorded they were of African origin, representing 1.6% of the Australian population and 5.1% of Australia’s overseas-born population. This number is expected to increase, as Australia has seen a growing number of African communities in recent decades. African Australians are Australians of direct Sub-Saharan African ancestry and are from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. The majority (72.6%) of African emigrants to Australia are from southern and eastern Africa, with Victoria having the largest number of people of African descent (125,505) followed by New South Wales (116,993).
African people migrate to Australia for many reasons, including job-seeking and civil wars caused by race, religion, nationality, and membership in particular social or political groups. A significant number of African migrants have come to Australia through a skilled migration stream, with many individuals arriving through humanitarian programs. However, African migrants face challenges in adjusting to Australian society due to its predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture. A study found that the majority of African migrants (34%) identified as integrated, while 24% described themselves as marginalized. Those who reported being discriminated against were more likely to remain traditional and loyal to their home culture while rejecting the host culture. For example, Black African migrants in Australia are often viewed with suspicion, and their skills are doubted, which can be damaging to their health and career performance.
Furthermore, the concept of "blackness" in Australia is primarily associated with Aboriginal Australians, with little recognition for non-Indigenous black Australians. This has resulted in the marginalization and social exclusion of non-white Australians, perpetuating systems of privilege and disadvantage. While Australia has its issues, some Black Americans in Australia feel that the quality of life for people of color is better than in the United States, as they do not experience the same constant state of fear and anxiety due to racial tensions.
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Frequently asked questions
Black people in Australia face multifaceted forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic racism. Black Australians are exposed to racist bullying, racial profiling, and negative racial stereotypes. However, some Black people in Australia have reported feeling liberated, especially when comparing their experiences in Australia to their experiences in America.
Large-scale immigration from Africa to Australia is a recent phenomenon. Prior to and directly following World War II, the majority of African migrants in Australia were white South Africans. However, this majority began to decrease in the 1960s due to the dismantling of racial discrimination in immigration policies. The number of people born in Sub-Saharan African countries living in Australia doubled between the 2001 and 2011 censuses.
Black people in Australia are strongly concentrated in Australian capital cities. In 2021, Victoria had the largest number of people of African descent (125,505), followed by New South Wales (116,993). Despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population, African Australians, predominantly of South Sudanese descent, comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria in 2021.
