Lexi Webster
Australia has a small but notable population of African Australians, who are Australians descended from any peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, including naturalized Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, the number of ancestry responses categorized within Sub-Saharan African ancestral groups as a proportion of the total population amounted to 1.3%. African Australians have reported experiencing racism and othering in Australia, and in 2021, it was reported that African Australians comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of African Australians | Nearly 380,000 |
| Percentage of African Australians in the total population | 1.3% |
| Percentage of young people in custody in Victoria of South Sudanese descent | 19% |
| Percentage of overall population of South Sudanese descent | <0.5% |
| African Australians in Melbourne | Large East African population |
| African Australians in Perth | Kenyan, Zambian, and Zimbabwean communities |
| Racism faced by African Australians | Everyday racism, derogatory slurs, ethnic jokes, ridicule, patronizing behaviors, assumptions of lack of competence, civil rights violations, stereotypes, marginalization, and disadvantage |
| Notable African Australians | Billy Blue, John Caesar, Black Jack Anderson |
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What You'll Learn
African Australians face anti-black racism and othering
African Australians are culturally and socially diverse, but they are often viewed as a homogenous group in opposition to constructions of whiteness. "Africanness" in Australia is associated with a lack of civilisation, disease, dirt, war, and poverty. These perceptions are rooted in racist and discriminatory assumptions about black people, and African Australians frequently experience discrimination, criminalisation, and racialisation in their interactions with the majority society. There is also a strong negative association between Africanness and criminality in Australian culture, with media representations contributing to this perception.
African Australians face racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence. They are exposed to racist hate speech and the use of negative racial stereotypes by politicians and the media. For example, Senator Pauline Hanson was widely accused of racism when she asserted in 2006 that Africans bring disease into Australia. African Australians, particularly those of South Sudanese descent, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and they have reported high levels of targeting by police.
The debate around "African gangs" in Melbourne further contributed to a "racialised moral panic," leading to fears among black people in the city that they would be arrested simply for congregating in public spaces. African Australians also face discrimination in schools, with many experiencing racist bullying. The legacy of Australia's past racist policies, such as the White Australia policy, which prohibited the immigration of black Africans until the 1970s, continues to impact African Australians today.
To address these issues, scholars and activists argue for tackling systemic anti-black racism and othering practices by pursuing policies and practices that promote racial equity and create a more inclusive multicultural society. This includes listening to and valuing the voices of racialised and marginalised people, as well as providing culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care to address the urgent mental health concerns facing African Australians.
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Black people in Melbourne fear being targeted by police
Melbourne, particularly in the west, is home to a diverse range of African immigrant communities, including those from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Tanzania. However, in recent years, there has been a growing fear among Black people in Melbourne of being targeted by the police. This concern has been heightened by reports of systemic racism, excessive use of force, and racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
The issue of police targeting of Black individuals, particularly those of South Sudanese descent, came to the forefront following Operation Liege in 2019, which saw the arrest of 57 young African Australians. While the operation garnered significant media attention, the majority of those arrested were later released without charge or had their charges dropped. This incident further fueled perceptions of over-policing and racial profiling within the African Australian community.
Research and testimonials from Melbourne's Black community members reveal a pervasive fear of being viewed as a threat and experiencing police harassment due to their skin colour. Young African Australians shared experiences of being stopped, questioned, and moved on by police purely based on their perceived ethnicity. This sense of being targeted has led to a breakdown of trust between the community and law enforcement, with some youth describing the police as "not on their side."
The media's portrayal of the "African gang" crisis in the lead-up to the 2018 Victorian election significantly contributed to the climate of fear and suspicion. The narrative of African youth gangs was seized upon by conservative politicians, drawing parallels to similar rhetoric in the EU and the US. This media-driven frenzy led to Black youth being viewed with suspicion by their neighbours and the wider community. The perceived threat of gangs even extended to schools, with new rules prohibiting pupils from gathering in groups, reflecting the deep-seated fear that had permeated everyday life.
The impact of this climate of fear extends beyond police interactions. Black individuals in Melbourne shared experiences of their neighbours crossing the street or putting away their phones when they approached, illustrating the pervasive nature of these stereotypes and suspicions. Furthermore, the fear of crime driven by media narratives has influenced political discourse, with politicians leveraging concerns about African gangs to gain traction during elections.
While there have been efforts to address these issues, such as the 2015 settlement of a racial profiling complaint against Victoria Police, the systemic racism and over-policing experienced by Melbourne's Black community persist. The ongoing challenges highlight the urgent need for meaningful change to rebuild trust and ensure fair and equitable treatment for all community members, regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background.
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African Australians are a recent phenomenon
African Australians are indeed a recent phenomenon. Large-scale immigration from Africa to Australia has only happened in recent times, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to Australia.
African Australians are Australians descended from any peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, the number of ancestry responses categorised within Sub-Saharan African ancestral groups as a proportion of the total population amounted to 1.3%. It is important to note that Australian official statistics are based on country of origin, not race; hence, African immigrants of European descent (such as White South Africans) and their descendants are included as African Australians.
Historically, there was little to no connection between the African continent and Australia, and until about 30 years ago, there were virtually no people of Black African descent in the country. This is because Australia did not have the same interaction with the transatlantic slave trade as the Americas due to its distance from the Atlantic.
However, in recent times, there has been a notable increase in African immigration to Australia, with Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth being home to diverse African communities. Melbourne, for example, is a hub for Sudanese, Somalian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Tanzanian migrants, while Perth has significant Kenyan, Zambian, and Zimbabwean communities.
Despite this recent growth in the African Australian population, they still face various challenges, including racism, othering, and discrimination. African Australians may experience everyday racism, ethnic jokes, ridicule, and assumptions of incompetence, which can have damaging effects on their lives. They may also face stereotypes, marginalization, and disadvantages in areas such as education and employment.
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Aboriginal Australians are often regarded as 'black'
Australia is home to a diverse range of people, including those with Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds. When discussing black people in Australia, it is important to acknowledge the unique context and history of the country.
Aboriginal Australians, who make up the majority of the Indigenous population, have a long and complex history with the term "black." Historically, European colonialists used the term "black" to refer to Aboriginal Australians, often in a pejorative manner based on skin colour. Today, while some Aboriginal people may still identify with the term "black", it is more commonly used to signify Aboriginal heritage, culture, and shared ancestry rather than solely skin colour or physical appearance.
The term "Black" or "Blak" has been reclaimed by some Aboriginal communities as an empowering identifier that transcends the limitations of a binary ""black and white" racial construct. This reclamation is evident in movements like the Indigenous-led Land Back movement and Black community organizations working towards land justice and reparations for civil and human rights violations.
It is worth noting that the term "black" in Australia can also refer to individuals of African descent, including those with ancestral ties to Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the African diaspora. However, the presence of African Australians in the country is a more recent phenomenon, with large-scale immigration from Africa occurring in the contemporary era.
In conclusion, the term "black" in Australia primarily refers to Aboriginal Australians, reflecting their cultural heritage and shared history. While the term has historical baggage, it has been reclaimed and repurposed by some Aboriginal communities as a source of empowerment and unity. Recognizing and respecting the diverse identities and histories of black people in Australia, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, is essential to fostering a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of Australian society.
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Black women in Australia face specific challenges
Australia has a small population of African immigrants and people of African descent, with nearly 380,000 African-Australians reported in 2021. However, there is no historical connection between the African continent and Australia, and until recently, there were very few people of Black African descent in the country. The African Australian population primarily consists of immigrants and their descendants from various Sub-Saharan African countries, including South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The criminal justice system in Australia has also been a source of concern for the Black community. In 2021, it was reported that African Australians, particularly those of South Sudanese descent, were overrepresented in the youth justice system, comprising 19% of young people in custody in Victoria, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population. This overrepresentation has led to fears of racial profiling and targeting by the police, with South Sudanese individuals reporting high levels of police scrutiny.
Additionally, the perception of Blackness in Australia is complex and varies depending on the context. While "Black" often refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the presence of African immigrants and their descendants adds another layer to the understanding of Black identity in Australia. The African Australian identity encompasses a diverse range of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds, shaping the experiences of Black women in unique ways.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are black people in Australia. African Australians are Australians descended from any peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, including naturalized Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and descendants of such immigrants.
At the 2021 census, the number of ancestry responses categorized within Sub-Saharan African ancestral groups as a proportion of the total population amounted to 1.3%.
Black people in Australia face racism, marginalization, and disadvantage. They are often stereotyped and face discriminatory challenges. Everyday racism can take the form of derogatory slurs, ethnic jokes, ridicule, and patronizing behaviors.
One blog post by a black woman in Australia noted that it was difficult to find haircare, makeup, and skincare products for black people in Australia.
There has been a highly racialized debate around so-called "African gangs" that led to racist discourse on social media. In 2013, Victoria Police settled a racial profiling complaint lodged by members of the African community.
