Lexi Webster
Australia has a small population of black people, with the term black in the country usually referring to Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders. While there are some African immigrants in Australia, there is no historical 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. The African diaspora has been present in Australia since the beginning of British colonisation, but the narrative that being Black Australian means being Aboriginal has resulted in the overlooking and misrepresentation of Black Australians of African descent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of African-Australians | 380,000 (2021) |
| Percentage of Sub-Saharan African ancestry in Australia | 1.3% (2021) |
| Percentage of South Sudanese-Australians in Victoria | 0.5% (2021) |
| Percentage of South Sudanese-born individuals in Australia | 19% of young people in custody in Victoria (2021) |
| Number of African-born people in Australia | 372,151 (2021) |
| Number of migrants from South Africa | 189,207 (2021) |
| Number of migrants from Zimbabwe | 6,847 (2021) |
| Number of African slaves brought to Australia | Several hundred (1823) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Australia's non-participation in the slave trade
Australia was held to the Slave Trade Act 1807, which abolished the slave trade in the British Empire, as well as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery in the British Empire. However, this did not prevent slavery from occurring in Australia.
From the early 1860s to 1904, tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders were brought to work on Queensland plantations. This trade became known as 'blackbirding'. While some workers were indentured and eventually returned to their homelands, many were not. Unscrupulous traders resorted to kidnapping and other tricks to entice people on board their vessels. The workers were often underpaid and lived and worked in harsh conditions. In the late 1860s, these labourers were allegedly sold for as little as £2 each.
First Nations Australians also experienced slavery, originally in the pearling industry in Western Australia and the Torres Strait and then in the cattle industry. The Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 (Cth) allowed the forced recruitment of Indigenous workers in the Northern Territory and legalised the non-payment of wages. Amendments to the Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 gave powers to the Protector or police officer to "expend" their wages or invest them in a trust fund – which was never paid out.
In recent years, Australia has taken steps to address modern slavery. In 2020, the government launched an updated National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery (NAP) for the period 2020 to 2025, allocating $10.6 million to implement the NAP. The new Labor government has also pledged the appointment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to work with business, the government, and civil society.
Discover Australia's Hummingbird Hotspots
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$23.2 $26.95
African immigrants in Australia
Australia has a small population of African immigrants, who have migrated for various reasons, including job-seeking and civil wars caused by race, religion, nationality, and membership in particular social or political groups. 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 includes both black and white Africans, with 58% being white South Africans and 42% being black Africans from sub-Saharan countries.
African Australians have diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. They have migrated to Australia through various streams, including skilled migration, humanitarian programs, and family reunion programs. Some have also arrived as secondary migrants from New Zealand, where they are citizens. The majority (72.6%) of African emigrants to Australia are from southern and eastern Africa, with English-speaking eastern Africans having an easier time assimilating due to their shared language with Australia.
The presence of African immigrants in Australia has led to racialised debates, such as the discussion around "African gangs" in Melbourne, which caused fear among black people in the city and led to reports of high levels of targeting by police. Despite these challenges, Australia has seen a growing number of African communities in recent decades, reflecting the country's shift towards attracting skilled migrants from diverse backgrounds to boost its economy and address skills shortages.
Indigenous Australians: A Rich Cultural History
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Indigenous Australians
The term "Black" in Australia is often used to refer specifically to Indigenous Australians, encompassing both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This usage of the term "Black" highlights the shared experiences of these Indigenous groups within the context of white Australia. However, it's important to note that the definition of "Blackness" is complex and multifaceted, and there are also non-Indigenous Black Australians of African descent.
Despite facing tremendous challenges, Indigenous Australians have fought for their rights, land, and cultural recognition. They have made significant contributions to various fields, including art, literature, sports, and politics. Many Indigenous Australians have also played an essential role in raising awareness about the issues facing their communities and advocating for reconciliation and social justice.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for truth-telling and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Efforts are being made to address the ongoing impacts of colonisation, including the establishment of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, which aims to provide a unified voice for Indigenous Australians at a national level. Additionally, the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution, has gained significant support.
How to Find Your Australia Post Account Number
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Race [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Iv2STe6bL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
African Australians in custody
Australia has a small population of African immigrants, with large-scale immigration from Africa being a recent phenomenon. 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 have made enormous contributions to Victoria in many sectors, including business, sports, politics, medicine, law, engineering, the arts, and entertainment. However, they are also disproportionately incarcerated in Victoria, comprising 19% of young people in custody, despite making up less than 0.5% of the overall population. This has been attributed to racial profiling and media bias, with the African Australian Advocacy Centre (AAAC) calling for action to address these issues.
Historically, Australia did not participate in the international slave trade, and the term "black" in Australia usually refers to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal Australians have also experienced high incarceration rates, with Western Australia having a particularly high rate of Aboriginal incarceration, nearly doubling between 1990 and 2010. Marianne McKay, Co-deputy Chair of the Deaths in Custody Watch Committee of Western Australia, has highlighted instances of police abuse and provocation towards Aboriginal men and women.
While the African Australian community in Australia is relatively new, it is diverse, with individuals from various ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds.
Applying for a Polish Passport in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Race [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YchznQKHL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
African Australian identity
African Australians are Australians descended from any people of Sub-Saharan African origin, 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.
African Australians come from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, educational, and employment backgrounds. Immigration from Africa to Australia remained limited until the 1990s, and large-scale immigration from Africa is a recent phenomenon. As a result, the African Australian community is relatively new in the country. In 2005-06, permanent settler arrivals to Australia included 4,000 South Africans and 3,800 Sudanese, constituting the sixth and seventh largest sources of migrants, respectively.
African Australians have faced challenges due to widespread racism and racial profiling in the country. There have been reports of African Australians being discriminated against in schools and workplaces due to their cultural expressions, such as hairstyles and clothing. Additionally, media representations have contributed to negative perceptions and stereotypes, with generalising and discriminatory descriptions such as "Sudanese gangs" and "Black Africans".
Despite these challenges, African Australian individuals have made significant contributions to various fields in Australia, including sports. In the 2020-2021 A-League season, 34 African Australian soccer players made an appearance, an increase from the previous year. Notable African Australian AFL players have also encouraged African Australians to be proud of their African identity, stressing that racial tensions must not define individuals of African descent in Australia.
Car Rego: What Australian Drivers Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are black people in Australia. In the dominant Australian narrative, "'black'" is used to refer to Aboriginal Australians. However, this narrative has been criticised for erasing non-Indigenous black Australians, including those of African descent.
The African diaspora has been present in Australia since the beginnings of British colonisation. For example, coins minted by the Tanzanian medieval kingdom of Kilwa Sultanate have been found on the Wessel Islands and are the oldest foreign artefacts ever discovered in Australia. Migrants from Mauritius have been arriving in Australia since before 1901. Following the 1823 Demerara Slave Rebellion in British Guiana, several hundred enslaved Africans were deported to Queensland, Australia.
In 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%. However, this number may not be accurate as Australian official statistics are based on country of origin, not race. In 2015, it was estimated that there were nearly 380,000 African-Australians.
Black people in Australia have been overlooked and misrepresented in the country. For example, a debate around so-called "'African gangs'" resulted in racist discourse on social media and caused black people in Melbourne to fear being arrested simply for congregating in public spaces. In 2018, 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".
