"Nigger". It's hard to bring yourself to say, isn't it? Did you get a little prick of discomfort reading that? I know I did writing it. If you were to say it in public, you'd probably find your voice automatically lower itself to near-inaudible levels, and find yourself glancing around furtively to make sure no large black chaps had taken offence. Any perceived racism is a taboo in our society. But here's the thing: should it be?
Let me categorically state here that I believe racism is a terrible thing. I'd like to hope that most people do! So the question remains: why does racism exist? I think it's about fear. Of the unknown. Of 'the other'. Of things people don't understand. Many vocal Australian people say of immigrants (or “boat people”) that “We don't want their kind here!” What kind, exactly? Their skin may be generally a different colour, and most likely don't speak English. But that's all that separates us. Boat people are human beings. Would any racist Australian consider white, English-speaking immigrants to be different to regular “boat people”? I think they would. Clearly, the issue is difference. Many people feel, for whatever reason, somehow threatened by difference. And the most readily identifiable kind of difference is skin colour. The bottom line is that racist people see superficial, literally skin-deep differences as insurmountable barriers. “We don't want their kind here!”
It's possible to be racist by disrespecting difference. But I ask another question: is it possible to be racist by respecting difference too much? Last year, I had a phenomenal history lecturer at university, who travels the world (particularly Asia) in the course of his work. Let's call him John. As a result of his travels, John has many friends and contacts in plenty of exotic countries. He regularly told our class of the 'racist' jokes he exchanged with his foreign friends. He even once turned up to class wearing a T-shirt that read simply: “White, and proud of it” – in Indonesian. It had been a gift from a Balinese friend. This was a man who didn't seem to mind bagging out any individual from a different country, however gently. Sometimes it made me uncomfortable. Wasn't that a bit racist? But at the end of the semester, he told our class a story that changed my perceptions of race completely.
John had grown up at the time of the civil rights movement in the US, and racial tensions were running high enough that one apparently ordered coffee “with” or “without” milk – never “black” or “white”. Everyone was so careful not to offend someone of a different race that it created even more tension within an already-tense society. No-one wanted to cause a scene out of a misunderstanding. And then one day at school, John told us, a black student went to drink at a water fountain – and the class teacher barked at him, “You can't drink there!”
The whole class froze. You couldn't say that to a black kid! Moments passed, with all the students looking on in horror. Then both the black student and the teacher began laughing. The class slowly relaxed. It had been a setup. John explained to our class that the point his teacher had made was that where racism actually exists, it needs to be stamped out – but neither can anyone afford to get too hung up about race for well-meaning reasons. Whether out of respect or disrespect, racial divisions are racial divisions, and they need to be moved on from, and ridiculed wherever necessary. Essentially, John is a man who doesn't care what race someone is – he doesn't mock his white friends and treat his foreign friends with exaggerated respect. No, for John, everyone was fair game, because everyone is a human being, and worthy of the same respect. John shares strong relationships with people of every race because his friendships aren't hampered by racial differences. We all bag out our friends to their faces often enough – why should it be different because their skin is a different colour?
I think that hard-liners who don't want “boat people” in Australia who've never even met a boat person could learn a lesson from John: people are all the same, if you get to know them. Imagine the rich relationships that people are missing out on because of uncertainty over something as superficial as skin colour, or clothing choice, or culture! Even language barriers can be overcome in time. Of course, different people and cultures have different senses of humour. Some people react well to friendly mockery and others don't. Some people are easier to “bag out” than others. But the point I'm making is that steering clear of anyone based on race – for respectful or disrespectful reasons – is still racism.
At the end of the day, we're all human beings, and I believe we should all see each other in the same light.
Let me categorically state here that I believe racism is a terrible thing. I'd like to hope that most people do! So the question remains: why does racism exist? I think it's about fear. Of the unknown. Of 'the other'. Of things people don't understand. Many vocal Australian people say of immigrants (or “boat people”) that “We don't want their kind here!” What kind, exactly? Their skin may be generally a different colour, and most likely don't speak English. But that's all that separates us. Boat people are human beings. Would any racist Australian consider white, English-speaking immigrants to be different to regular “boat people”? I think they would. Clearly, the issue is difference. Many people feel, for whatever reason, somehow threatened by difference. And the most readily identifiable kind of difference is skin colour. The bottom line is that racist people see superficial, literally skin-deep differences as insurmountable barriers. “We don't want their kind here!”
It's possible to be racist by disrespecting difference. But I ask another question: is it possible to be racist by respecting difference too much? Last year, I had a phenomenal history lecturer at university, who travels the world (particularly Asia) in the course of his work. Let's call him John. As a result of his travels, John has many friends and contacts in plenty of exotic countries. He regularly told our class of the 'racist' jokes he exchanged with his foreign friends. He even once turned up to class wearing a T-shirt that read simply: “White, and proud of it” – in Indonesian. It had been a gift from a Balinese friend. This was a man who didn't seem to mind bagging out any individual from a different country, however gently. Sometimes it made me uncomfortable. Wasn't that a bit racist? But at the end of the semester, he told our class a story that changed my perceptions of race completely.
John had grown up at the time of the civil rights movement in the US, and racial tensions were running high enough that one apparently ordered coffee “with” or “without” milk – never “black” or “white”. Everyone was so careful not to offend someone of a different race that it created even more tension within an already-tense society. No-one wanted to cause a scene out of a misunderstanding. And then one day at school, John told us, a black student went to drink at a water fountain – and the class teacher barked at him, “You can't drink there!”
The whole class froze. You couldn't say that to a black kid! Moments passed, with all the students looking on in horror. Then both the black student and the teacher began laughing. The class slowly relaxed. It had been a setup. John explained to our class that the point his teacher had made was that where racism actually exists, it needs to be stamped out – but neither can anyone afford to get too hung up about race for well-meaning reasons. Whether out of respect or disrespect, racial divisions are racial divisions, and they need to be moved on from, and ridiculed wherever necessary. Essentially, John is a man who doesn't care what race someone is – he doesn't mock his white friends and treat his foreign friends with exaggerated respect. No, for John, everyone was fair game, because everyone is a human being, and worthy of the same respect. John shares strong relationships with people of every race because his friendships aren't hampered by racial differences. We all bag out our friends to their faces often enough – why should it be different because their skin is a different colour?
I think that hard-liners who don't want “boat people” in Australia who've never even met a boat person could learn a lesson from John: people are all the same, if you get to know them. Imagine the rich relationships that people are missing out on because of uncertainty over something as superficial as skin colour, or clothing choice, or culture! Even language barriers can be overcome in time. Of course, different people and cultures have different senses of humour. Some people react well to friendly mockery and others don't. Some people are easier to “bag out” than others. But the point I'm making is that steering clear of anyone based on race – for respectful or disrespectful reasons – is still racism.
At the end of the day, we're all human beings, and I believe we should all see each other in the same light.
