Damon Mcknight
Australia has a complicated history with regard to its treatment of Black people. Historically, the country had a White Australia policy, which aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origins from immigrating to the country. This policy was dismantled between 1949 and 1973, and in 2021, people with Sub-Saharan African ancestry made up 1.3% of the population. Despite this, racism and discrimination against Black people in Australia persist, with Aboriginal people and African immigrants facing prejudice and racist discourse in everyday life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of colourism | Yes |
| Erasure of Indigenous peoples | Yes |
| Racism | Yes |
| Population of African descent | 1.3% |
| Population of African-born | 1.7% |
| History of racial policies | Yes |
| History of anti-Chinese immigration laws | Yes |
| History of discrimination based on the Dictation Test | Yes |
| History of deportation of Pacific Islanders | Yes |
| History of blackbirding | Yes |
| History of racialised moral panic | Yes |
| History of overpolicing | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's history of colourism and racism
Australia has a long history of colourism and racism. Race and racism have been central to the organisation of Australian society since European colonisation began in 1788. The First Peoples of Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have faced severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, and have suffered genocide, forced removals, massacres, and discrimination.
The White Australia policy, in effect from 1901 until the 1970s, prohibited the immigration of black Africans and other non-white groups. This policy was a set of racial policies that aimed to create a "white/British" ideal focused on Anglo-Celtic peoples. The growth of the sugar industry in Queensland in the 1870s led to the recruitment of thousands of "Kanakas" (Pacific Islanders) as indentured workers, which was commonly termed "blackbirding". In 1901, the Pacific Island Labourers Act was passed, resulting in the deportation of 7,500 "Kanakas" and the prohibition of entry for Pacific Islanders after 1904.
African Australians have also faced racial discrimination, with the 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission report stating that those born in South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Ethiopia experienced some of the highest levels of racial discrimination. This has been reflected in debates around so-called "African gangs" in Melbourne, which resulted in racist discourse on social media and fears of racial profiling by police among black people in the city.
Additionally, shadeism, or colourism, has been a global issue rooted in white supremacy and has impacted Aboriginal people in Australia. The notion of "breeding out the colour" of Aboriginal people deemed fit for assimilation and the idea of "smoothing the dying pillow" of those perceived as unviable for the White Australia project are examples of shadeism. Culturism, or the expectation that minorities should mirror whiteness to be accepted, has also been identified as a form of racism experienced by Aboriginal people and other Australians of colour.
While Australia has made some progress in addressing racism, with the Victorian Government establishing an Anti-Racism Taskforce in 2020, the country continues to grapple with its history of colourism and racism.
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The White Australia Policy
The policy emerged in the mid-19th century from fears among white Australians, particularly of British descent, that an influx of non-white immigrants threatened their job security and the racial composition of the nation. This was particularly true in the case of Chinese immigrants, who were perceived to be harder workers and willing to work for "substandard" wages. As a result, various legislative measures were enacted to limit non-white immigration, including literacy tests, numerical quotas, and the Dictation Test, which gave immigration officials the power to racially discriminate.
Successive governments dismantled the policy in stages after World War II, with conditions of entry for people of non-European origin being relaxed in 1964. The Holt government removed discrimination against non-white applicants for citizenship in 1966, and the Whitlam government passed laws to ensure that race would be totally disregarded as a component of immigration to Australia in 1973. In 1975, the Racial Discrimination Act was passed, making racially-based selection criteria unlawful.
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Aboriginal people and the term 'Black'
The term "Black" in the context of Australia has been historically associated with Aboriginal Australians, who are the original inhabitants of mainland Australia. During the colonial era, the term "Black" was often used by European colonists in a pejorative manner, referring to the skin colour of Aboriginal people. This usage was prevalent in colonial media headlines and negative stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Over time, the term "Black" has been reclaimed by Aboriginal activists, leaders, and communities. In the 1970s, during a period of rising Aboriginal activism, leaders such as Gary Foley embraced the term "Black" as a source of pride and a way to affirm their heritage and culture. The term "Blackfella" or "Blackfellas" is commonly used within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to refer to themselves and has become a symbol of empowerment and unity.
However, the usage of the term "Black" is complex and varied. While some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use "Black" or "Blackfella" to refer to themselves, others may find it offensive, especially when used by non-Indigenous people. The context and relationship to the individuals or communities are crucial factors in determining the appropriateness of the term's usage. Additionally, the term "Black" can also refer to other racialised groups in Australia, including African Australians, creating a layer of complexity in how the term is understood and used.
The history of race relations in Australia is marked by policies such as the White Australia policy, which aimed to maintain a ""white/British" ideal by excluding non-European immigrants, particularly Asians and Pacific Islanders. This policy, in place from the early 1900s to the 1970s, contributed to racialised narratives and discrimination against non-white populations. Despite the official dismantling of these policies, their legacy continues to shape social attitudes and experiences of racialised communities in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, African Australians, and other non-white ethnic groups.
In recent years, there has been a push for more specific and culturally respectful terminology when referring to Indigenous Australians. Terms such as "First Nations", "First Peoples", and "First Australians" have gained traction as they recognise the unique cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. These terms aim to move beyond generic labels and honour the distinct identities and perspectives of different Indigenous communities.
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African immigration to Australia
Australia has a long history of immigration, with millions of migrants from different countries and continents calling the country home. However, large-scale immigration from Africa to Australia is a recent phenomenon, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to the country.
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. 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. Of these African Australians, 58% were white South Africans, and 42% were black Africans from sub-Saharan countries.
Historically, Australia has had a ""White Australia policy", a set of racial policies that aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origins from immigrating to Australia, to create a ""white/British" ideal focused on Anglo-Celtic peoples. This policy was progressively dismantled between 1949 and 1973, with the Whitlam government removing the last racial elements of Australia's immigration laws. Despite this, racism and prejudice towards black people in Australia persist. A 2012 study examined attitudes towards African immigrants in Western Australia and found that black people in Melbourne feared they would be arrested simply for congregating in public spaces, with South Sudanese people reporting high levels of targeting by police.
African immigrants to Australia come from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. Some common countries of origin include South Africa, Sudan, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Many African Australians have come to the country through skilled migration streams, humanitarian programs, and family reunion migration streams.
African immigrants to Australia may face challenges in adjusting and adapting to Australian society, which has a predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture. Studies have examined the acculturation strategies of African migrants, finding that the majority identified as integrated, while some remained loyal to their traditional home cultures, rejecting the host culture. English-speaking eastern Africans were more likely to feel assimilated prior to migration, considering themselves part of the English-speaking Australian culture and blending in. Those who felt discriminated against were more likely to remain traditional and loyal to their home culture. Legislative reforms may be needed to help the adjustment and adaptation processes of African migrants to Australia.
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Black people's experiences in Australia
Australia has a history of racist migration policies and practices, such as the White Australia policy, which aimed to create a "'white/British' ideal focused on Anglo-Celtic peoples". This policy was progressively dismantled between 1949 and 1973, with the last racial elements of Australia's immigration laws being removed by the Whitlam government. Despite this, Australia still has issues with racism, colorism, and the erasure of indigenous peoples.
Black people in Australia have reported experiencing racism and discrimination. For example, in 2018, Kaiya Aboagye, a PhD student of Ghanaian, Aboriginal, South Sea, and Torres Strait Islander heritage, highlighted the African connection to Aboriginal Australians, citing "long histories of African/Indigenous relationships both inside and outside Australia". Aboagye's comments underscore the diverse origins and experiences of blackness among peoples in the Global South.
African Australians, particularly those of South Sudanese descent, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. In 2021, they comprised 19% of young people in custody in Victoria, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population. This has led to debates around so-called "African gangs", which have been highly racialized and resulted in racist discourse on social media. Black people in Melbourne have reported fearing arrest simply for congregating in public spaces, with South Sudanese people experiencing high levels of targeting by police.
Black expats in Australia have shared mixed experiences. Some have reported feeling more comfortable in Australia than in the United States, citing higher quality of life and less fear of racial profiling by law enforcement. Others have noted challenges in finding services that cater to their cultural needs, such as barbershops and beauty salons.
Overall, while Australia has made strides in addressing its racist past, black people in the country continue to face challenges and discrimination, underscoring the need for further efforts to promote racial equity and inclusion.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia does let black people in. However, Australia has a long history of official and unofficial racism towards Black people, 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.
The White Australia policy was a set of racial policies that aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origins – primarily Asians and Pacific Islanders – from immigrating to Australia, in order to create a ""white/British" ideal focused on but not exclusively Anglo-Celtic peoples.
The first people to roam the lands of Australia were Black migrants who arrived almost 80,000 years ago. These were the Aboriginal Australians. Today, there are an estimated 300,000 to more than 1,000,000 Aboriginals still occupying parts of Australia.
African Australians are culturally and socially diverse, but Australian society typically views them as a homogenous group, set in opposition to its constructions of whiteness. In Australia, "Africanness" is associated with a lack of civilisation, disease, dirt, war and poverty. African Australians suffer a high degree of racial discrimination, with the 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission report stating 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.
The Australian government has expressed an intent to address gaps and human rights concerns with a strengthened Anti-racism framework.
