Omari Gates
Australia has a long and complex history of racial discrimination and xenophobia, with UN experts stating that the country's settler-colonial past, its White Australia immigration policy, and the legacy endured by First Nations peoples, including Aboriginal people, have contributed to a narrative that primarily associates 'blackness' with Indigenous Australians. This narrative often excludes the experiences of non-Indigenous Black Australians, including immigrants from Africa and black descendants of settlers. While migration to Australia is not new, large-scale immigration from Africa is a more recent development, and African Australians have faced racial profiling, racist hate speech, and systemic racism in various spheres of Australian society.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Australia a racist country? | Yes, according to UN experts and political journalist Laura Tingle. |
| What is the status of Black people in Australia? | In the dominant Australian narrative, Blacks are regarded as Aboriginal. However, there are also non-Indigenous Black Australians, including immigrants from Africa and the descendants of settlers. |
| What is the status of African Australians? | 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%. |
| What is the Australian government doing to address racism? | The Australian government has expressed its intent to address gaps and human rights concerns with a strengthened Anti-racism framework. |
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What You'll Learn
Racism against Black people in Australia
Australia has a long history of official and unofficial racism towards Black people, reflected in its White Australia immigration policy, which was in effect from 1901 until the 1970s and prohibited the immigration of Black Africans, among other non-White groups. This policy was discussed in the presence of small numbers of African-Australians, African-Americans, and African-Canadians who were already resident in Australia.
African Australians are Australians descended from 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%. African Australians come from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds.
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." In addition, racist hate speech and the use of negative racial stereotypes by some politicians and the media have been documented. Research shows that many African Australian children are exposed to racist bullying with no redress. Furthermore, there is a strong negative association between Africanness and criminality in Australian culture, which has been reflected in media representations.
Indigenous Australians, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have a unique experience of racism as the continent's First Peoples, continuing to endure the legacies of colonisation. They have faced severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, and have suffered genocide, forced removals, and massacres, and continue to face discrimination and high rates of deaths in custody.
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History of African migration to Australia
Australia is a country that has welcomed millions of migrants from different countries and continents. However, large-scale immigration from Africa to Australia is a relatively recent phenomenon, with Europe and Asia traditionally being the largest sources of migration to the country.
The Aboriginal Australians
According to a genetic study, all present-day non-African populations, including Aboriginal Australians, descend from a single wave of migrants who left Africa around 72,000 years ago. This study, led by Professor Eske Willerslev, confirmed that Aboriginal Australians are descended directly from the first people to inhabit Australia. This finding is supported by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's belief that people have always been in Australia as part of the Dreaming, the time of creation of the world.
African Migration to Australia
African migration to Australia has occurred through various streams, including skilled migration, humanitarian programs, family reunion, and refugee resettlement. In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the top countries of origin for African immigrants to Australia through the skilled migration stream were South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In the same period, humanitarian programs brought individuals from East African countries, including Burundi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Family reunion migration brought people from Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Uganda.
Historical Context
Historically, African migration to Australia has been influenced by various factors, including the gold rushes of the 1850s, which attracted South African prospectors to Victoria, and the White Australia Policy, which was abolished, allowing for greater migration opportunities. Additionally, the Soweto riots of 1976 and the dismantling of apartheid led to an increase in South African immigrants seeking new lives in Australia due to its similar climate and language.
Settlement Challenges
African migrants to Australia have faced various settlement challenges, including widespread racism and difficulties adjusting to Australia's predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture. Many African refugees have been labeled "undesirable" in political and media discourse due to exaggerated and misreported settlement challenges. These challenges highlight the importance of understanding the history and context of African migration to Australia to develop effective policies and practices for supporting these communities.
Recent Trends
In the last two decades, there has been a growing number of African communities in Australia. The 2020 census recorded over 400,000 people of African origin, representing 1.6% of the total population and 5.1% of Australia's overseas-born population. This recent migration has been driven by various factors, including job-seeking and civil wars caused by race, religion, and political groups.
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Aboriginal people's use of the term 'Black'
The term "Black" in reference to Indigenous Australians has a complex history. During the colonial era, the word "blacks" frequently appeared in media headlines for negative stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While the term originally referred to skin colour, it was often used pejoratively. In the 1970s, with the rise of Aboriginal activism, leaders such as Gary Foley and writer Kevin Gilbert embraced the term "Black" as a proud assertion of their identity.
Today, the term "Black" is used by some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to refer to their heritage and culture. However, its usage is varied and dependent on context. The term "Black" can refer specifically to Indigenous Australians or inclusively to all Black people, including African Australians. As such, the use of "Black" to refer solely to Indigenous Australians can be deemed inappropriate and confusing.
Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use the term "Blackfella" or "blak" amongst themselves, but non-Indigenous Australians should exercise caution when using these terms as they may be considered offensive. The term "blak" was coined by Aboriginal artist, broadcaster, and political activist Destiny Deacon, who sought to reclaim and redefine the word "black" from its derogatory history. "Blak" has become a powerful symbol of Indigenous identity, challenging the negative portrayals imposed by non-Indigenous people.
It is important to respect the preferences of individuals, families, and communities when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While "Aboriginal" and "Indigenous" are commonly used, they may fail to represent the unique cultures of these groups. More specific terms, such as naming the language group or using a demonym related to a geographic area, can be preferred to affirm a sense of identity. Other terms like "First Australians", "First Nations", and "First Peoples" have also emerged to recognise the distinct cultures and histories of these communities.
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Australia's White immigration policy
Australia has a long history of immigration policies that favoured white immigrants over non-white immigrants. This was known as the White Australia Policy, which was introduced in 1901 and lasted until the 1970s.
The policy was a result of racist attitudes held by many white Australians, who feared that non-white immigrants would threaten Australian society. This was reflected in the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which effectively halted all non-European immigration and contributed to the development of a racially insulated white society. The Act required all non-European immigrants to take a 50-word dictation test in a European language, which was easy for immigration officers to manipulate to ensure the failure of undesirable migrants.
The White Australia Policy had a significant impact on the demographics of the country, with the Asian population shrinking from 1.25% in 1901 to around 0.21% by the late 1940s. The policy was gradually dismantled after World War II, with successive governments taking steps to encourage non-British Europeans to immigrate to Australia. In 1966, the Holt government removed discrimination against non-white applicants for citizenship, and in 1973, the Whitlam government passed laws to ensure that race would be totally disregarded as a component for immigration.
Despite the official end of the White Australia Policy, racism and discrimination against people of African descent in Australia persist. UN experts have expressed serious concerns about the multifaceted forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic racism faced by Africans and people of African descent in Australia. This includes racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence. Additionally, the mental health of individuals of African descent in Australia has been identified as an urgent concern, requiring culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care.
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Black Australians' racial identity
Australia has a long history of official and unofficial racism towards Black people. This is reflected in the White Australia policy, which was in effect from 1901 until the 1970s, prohibiting the immigration of Black Africans and other non-White groups. The country's settler-colonial past, the White Australia immigration policy, and its legacy are still endured by First Nations peoples, including Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islanders, and South Sea Islanders.
African Australians are those descended from 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 groups as a proportion of the total population amounted to 1.3%. 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 face racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence. They also suffer from 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." There is also a strong negative association between Africanness and criminality in Australian culture, with African Australian men often identified as "towering seven feet 'brutes'" associated with "backwardness, primitiveness, danger, and crime".
Black Australians most often refer to Indigenous Australians, including Aboriginal Australians, Torres Strait Islanders, and South Sea Islanders of Melanesian heritage. However, Natasha Guantai highlights that the dominant Australian narrative regards Blacks as only Aboriginal, with little space for non-Indigenous Black Australians. Guantai also points out differences in the experiences of various groups, including Indigenous Australians, immigrants from Africa, the Black descendants of settlers, and Black people arriving from other white-majority countries.
Australia's history of racism and discrimination against Black people has been well-documented, and the country is working towards addressing these issues and creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
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Frequently asked questions
There is evidence to suggest that Australia is a racist country, with UN experts stating that people of African descent are exposed to multi-faceted forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and
Australia has a history of racism, with the White Australia Policy being used to prevent non-Europeans from settling in the country after Federation in 1901. This resulted in a rapid decrease in overseas-born residents and led to the kidnapping of over 62,000 people from the Pacific Islands to work in slavery-like conditions.
Yes, there are Black people in Australia, including Aboriginal Australians and African Australians. African Australians are Australians descended from any peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from this region.
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%.
The experiences of Black people in Australia vary depending on their background. Aboriginal Australians have experienced the impacts of Australia's settler-colonial past and its White Australia immigration policy. African Australians face racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence. Black people in Melbourne have also reported fearing arrest simply for congregating in public spaces.
