Brad Ideas - Australia, fair - Comments

Too Bad

Saville — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:27:38 -0700

I am an African-American male living in Los Angeles, Ca. I was 30 yrs old in 1983 when I met a wonderful gorgeous Australian (White) woman at a club. We hit it off and dated for about a year. She was always around my friends, who were mostly Afr-Amer, and she loved them and they loved her.

One day she was telling me how many Aussie women would be chasing me if we were in Australia and about how few Black men were there. I said that I thought that there were plenty of Aboriginal men there, who of course are Black. She laughed hysterically, telling me that they were not Black, and that they were not even people. This woman was otherwise intelligent and rational but could not be moved on this point.

I think I could have married that girl; but the relationship was never the same after that conversation.

I am a woman of Croatian

Michelle Jb — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:10:44 -0800

I am a woman of Croatian descent who lived in Australia for the first 19 years of my life. Growing up in Australia (and we moved constantly) I encountered alot of prejudices towards myself (as many Anglo people don't consider nonp-British people 'real whites' they label us 'Ethnic'). As someone who is HEAVILY into old-school funk/R&B/soul/Hip-Hop I was also frustrated by the fact that Australian 'entertainment' doesn't cater for the most part to my interests. So, once I hit 19 I took off on a one-way ticket to North America.

After 6 weeks traipsing along America's west coast, I headed North and spent my first 3 years in Vancouver, Canada and I must say, they were some of the greatest years of my life. Gorgeous city, great restaurants, VERY stylish, the people were soooo soulful and though the live music scene wasn't as bumpin' as I hoped it would be there were millions of records to dig for. I met some of the greatest people in my life.

After 3 years my brother convinced me to give Australia another shot. So, I boarded a plane by way of Honolulu. Had a BLAST in Hawaii and arrived in Sydney in the morning of January 2nd, 2003. The sky was ashy due to the severe fires raging at the time. The Olympics and the subsequent gentrification that ensued really drained Sydney city of any personality. Music was 4 times more expensive, and the people were amongst the most judgemental, unfriendly I ever met. A year later I met an American man and when he invited me to head off to North America I JUMPED at the chance.

7 years in North America. Hawaii (visiting Oahu once is more than enough), Vancouver (the city had changed ALOT in 18 months though the people and food and shopping and nature were still fabulous), Toronto (GREAT city! Great diverse populace, VERY attractive, FANTASTIC in every regard exempt weather), Atlanta (strange, first time I ever experienced being viewed as 'white' plus I was living amongst Black Nationalists so I spent alot of time debating politics with Nation of Islam, Hebrew Israelites, Garveyites, 5%ers), Miami (I only encountered the 'hood in Miami, so limited experience), Seattle (great food, boring uptight Caucasians - sorry), 'Nawlins (FANTASTIC!!! LOVE this city!! Food, culture, music, style, architecture = HEAVEN for me!) and finally, where we settled Los Angeles. Great groceries, TONNES to do, GREAT shopping. Than someone from my past in Australia tracked me down on FB and convinced me Australia had changed. "Okay, ONE more time" I'll give it a try.

So, we arrived February '10. I'm bored out of my MIND. Granted, now I have a 6 year old with Auspergers Autism but still in Los Angeles there were things to do. Soooo over-priced. People are very localized and unfriendly and...niave. Still don't find the men very appealing. People are either overtly prejudiced or idealize someone because of their skin color (the folks with 'fetishes' for exampple the Anglo boys with women of Asian descent and the 'white' girls who drool over ANY African-American brotha but who would NEVER date an African or Indigenous brotha). KICKING myself I came back to this island in the middle of nowhere with no soul, no personality, no vibe and nothing to DO. So, my focus is to finish my degree, save some pennies and move my ayss to Miami where I'm but a mere couple of hours flight to NYC, the Caribbean Islands, 'Nawlins and the Yucatan and this time NO-ONE will deter me from EVER returning to Oz.

P.S. I've made plans that God forbid if I pass away to take my remains to North America...I would hate to 'rest' in Australia for eternity :(

African American Woman That Wants to Study Abroad in Australia

Brown Sugar Bliss — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:01:08 -0700

If you don't mind me asking: What university did you study at in Australia? I'm looking at The University at the Sunshine Coast and James Cook University. I'm really happy to hear that you had such a wonderful experience, because I a so nervous about going, but SO very excited!!! I just hope that Australia is just as excited to meet me as I am about meeting her :-)

Black Americans living in Australia

Gus — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:50:14 -0700

Hello all! Over the years I've heard a mix of opinions concerning Aussie attitudes as relates to Americans of African descent. I too am American of African heritage, having grown up in the US deep-south during the 60's, 70's and early 80's. I'll try not to bore you or go into great detail, just to say that I was bought up by a God-fearing Christan mother who taught us kids early on that you simply treat people with the same care and respect your're expecting to receive. Growing up in the turbulant 60's and 70's, this sometimes was not an easy teaching to live up to. While it is well-known the historical racist hardships of African-Americans and the Aborigines of Australia, we can't undue the past, but we, as caring, God-loving people can do much to foster better relations simply by doing unto others...Ok, ok, I'm not gonna preach at ya, just wanted to share a few thoughts. There's a lot of pain already in the world, we don't need adding to it with negitave racist attitudes. I, myself have been fortunate to have had a chance to travel the world at bit, living in Japan the past few years. Now, it appears I have a chance with my present employer to work/live in Western Australia for a while, and looking forward to it. Life is way too short and precious for wasting it on hate...

Well, you are likely to cop

Hmm — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:32:17 -0700

Well, you are likely to cop some abuse, but don't take it personally because Australians are a primitive and savage people. It is not a first world country although they like to think it is.

Actually I've lived in

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:22:12 -0700

Actually I've lived in Darwin since I was born for about 18 years (I changed location about two years ago) and have had classes with friends who are Aboriginal. What is happening in Darwin is an issue essentially a lot more complex than it appears to be. Especially young people aren't racist. For example) when sharing opinions out of a SOSE class of more than thirty teenagers there was one girl who was racist to Aboriginal people. The rest of the class heatedly disagreed with her. Somehow she'd never been in a class in school with an Aboriginal person in her whole life and she said that her Dad, not from Darwin, is very racist towards Aboriginal people. So, I think that's where the attitude had come from...

Firstly, please don't base any views of Darwin from the Movie 'Australia'. The movie is interesting, but also is an incredibly historically inaccurate representation of Darwin!
There has always been a huge Aboriginal population living in Darwin. In fact, there was a huge Chinese Australian population and some Japanese Australian people actually lived there over 110 years ago. Apparently, the climate is so unbearably hot and humid that (contrary to belief) Australian people from cold European climates had a difficult time adjusting to the climate there. The landscape is very beautiful, particularly during the wet season, when it's very green and the thunderstorms and sunsets can be incredible. The beaches are beautiful even if you can't swim in them most of the year and the markets are awesome. The markets actually originated from the fruit and veggie markets from the huge Chinese Australian population and there's a dragon display every year for Chinese New Year.

Now, to the more complex issue.
What has been happening recently is that alcohol has been banned from Aboriginal Communities nearby Darwin which has forced a lot of drunks to come to Darwin and live on the streets. As a young woman living there it's actually become pretty scary. There's broken glass on the pavements, in the evening people would argue and there was domestic abuse on the road outside my house. I've received harassment from Middle Aged Aboriginal men nearby bus stations, drunken people will follow you in groups when you're alone and yell out abuse, a drunk Aboriginal guy attacked my boss in her workplace (an elderly woman at a cash register because she couldn't serve an item without the money for the item). That's just a preview of the situation. People my age also now drink until they pass out, the crime rate has risen heavily. Older people are moving away from the city to retire because the climate's too hot. Compared to other Capital Cities in Australia, Darwin is unusual because the average age of a person there is so young, the male population is much greater than the female population and the crime rate is so high.

I've found that Darwin is now becoming well known as a 'Party Town'. The Party scene is very vibrant and enjoyable, and if you're an attractive young woman then you can get very spoilt but it wasn't something that used to be normal. However, I think the local people until recently are very nice. The shopkeepers or market people used to give free lollies to children and tourists and it used to be so safe that it was possible to leave the car or house unlocked and not be robbed. I can remember the time when everyone became so excited over a Maccas being opened there lol. Notice that when you ride the public transport there will always be some people speaking a language other than English. There are plenty of not drunk, polite and friendly Aboriginal people there as well. But some people come from different states and countries and form their own superficial opinion not representative of the locals!?

I don't think you've been in Darwin long enough to understand what's going on...

Ive never heard Chris Rock

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:41:40 -0800

Ive never heard Chris Rock make a joke about whites. Even if he had, it somehow doesnt balance out with the disgusting antu black racism of southern american whites and american ethnic cleansing of native americans.

People like you are the reason racist exists. You take people who victimize and try to make them the victim. Tell your story to those southern anti-obamist.

It's true

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:07:28 -0800

that Aussies are FAR racists than Americans. It's shocking! and almost laughable. why is it laughable? because there's nothing great about Aussies at all and yet they look down on other Greater Asian countries. Talk about Japan, Korea, China, Hongkong, ALL of them have FAR stronger economy and ranked higher in GDP than Aussies.

So it's like White beggers/hobos on the street making racist joke to Rich Asians. LMAO! I'd say being wealthy or rich on yourself should come before worrying about other people. fucking stupid aussies

Well, I think there is a lot

Eve — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:35:02 -0800

Well, I think there is a lot of racism simmering under the surface of Australian society, and it's because many in Australia (predominantly white men, since they have that 'colonial mentality') are still in denial that this was a predominantly black country for over 30,000 years, and that the black population is now about 1%. In other words, picture White Apartheid South Africa, if the Dutch had massacred 99% of the black population, and shipped in predominantly white Dutch people. That's how Australia is - predominatly white people of British descent. But the irony is, as much as white Australian men are so racist, at the end of the day, they couldn't really bring back the White Australia Policy, because so many of them are in relationships with Asian women! And not usually Asian women that are born here, but Asian women that they've found in Thailand, the Philippines or Indonesia, and brought them back here! Half of the couples you see are Australian men with Asian women. And that's not counting the famous men like Jimmy Barnes, Michael Klim, Bob Carr and Rupert Murdoch. What would Australian men do without Asian women? They'd be alone! lol. BTW, a lot of Australian women have crushes on black American men, but usually they don't go to America on a mad man-hunt and bring them down here! lol.

Black Americans living in Australia

Those Griffins — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:53:36 -0800

Alright here goes. I myself am a white Australian women whom is married to an amazing black American man and yes we live in Australia. Now, you can listen to me jabber on about how we haven't come into much racism from the outside community just general curiosity as to why he is living here and for obvious reasons that would be for me. Now, Australia is a prodominant white country yes and don't get the chance to generally have a lot of contact with black people whether african, american, french whatever... I will say however the African community in Australia is getting larger by the second due to them immigrating here. You will find racism where ever you go. I know when we lived in America there were a few looks and words spoken but it happens here. Mainly people here in South Australia give looks of curiosity and sometimes questions of curiosity mainly because it's not something they see everyday. Generally friendly so long as you are friendly also. You cant come over here thinking all the people are going to drop to their knees and bow down to you thinking you are all that because you will get kicked in the head. lol... Be polite, take all comments with a pinch of salt and remember to laugh at yourselves and others. Aussie are good at laughing at themselves and definately others. Our humour is quite strange and at times can be looked at as racism but for years people have been calling us skips and you dont see us crying!! Now, I understand all to well that it isnt a nice feeling having racial slurs but please understand that though it is not right in the eye of the visitor may only be seen as fun and jokingly to the locals for example if someone says g'day yank how are ya? Now don't take offence if you are american it has been a term used since early war days when americans were based at a naval sea port in perth and probably before then. It's an acknowledgment of yes you are american and I do understand calling you a yank back in america means you are from new york with its much other reasons. No offence intended. Enjoy yourself here in Australia there is so much beautiful stuff to see here, dont let some ignorant retards ruin your hopes and aspirations and believe like a lot of us that Australia is gradually learning that not everyone gets our humour and to some it isnt humourous. We are still a very young country and we will grow over time. I myself feel that my husband and I are contributing to Australians growing and understanding that people of all colours, shapes and sizes are just as equal as the next. As for the aboriginals, yes there is a lot of ongoing racism around this it is deeply routed and you do need to understand it wasnt that long ago that the aboriginal people became the lost generation so please bare with us all and do your part to help us extend on our understandings and appreciations for others. We generally are caring and respectful, outgoing people but like all countries we have the retards giving us a bad name also.

Thank you from a proud interracial couple living in Australia!!

So Chris Rock is ok then?

Matt26 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:14:20 -0800

So once again its ok for Chris Rock (a black man) to make racist jokes about white people, but its not ok for white people to make fun of black people?

People like you are such morons, the reason racism still exists is because people like you can't laugh at yourself.

Australia

Neutral Negative — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:05:51 -0800

This is how I came to self-identify myself (N2). All total, I can attest to more than ten-plus AUS encounters and about six NZ otherwise. I am older and of Free Black descent, with an Irish patriarch like many "Down Under".

Here goes. Before these direct meetings, I had an interest in the marsupials, (Uluru) Ayers Rock, etc. In fact, Thomas Keneally is one the greatest authors (fiction and non-fiction) of all time! In college, a peer noted that a Black lady from his hometown moved to AUS and returned to the USA due to racism.

The very first Australian I recall meeting was a former German Nazi army conscript visiting the cemetery in Ohio where some of his late comrades were buried. I believe he was sincere about his draft status back then and that he did not hate minorities, just Jews. After being asked for directions, I asked why he did not move to South Africa after WWII. My father and uncles on both sides were WWII and military veterans also. This man pointed out that he would be unwelcome there due to the Jews who fled Hitler. Yes, a number did succeed there and supported apartheid I know firsthand. Similarly, so have some other non-Black "Coloureds" who wanted to fit in. There are good and bad people everywhere you go. Being aware of Jewish slaveholders in the USA, along with Christian ones and Muslin ones abriad reitierates that no one people should be perceived as all good or bad. NEUTRAL

Moving right along, my next AUS/NZ encounter was with an ancient bitch who was apparently the wife of a WWII Yabk thatbrought her stateside. I was on a Continental flight and this couple and a young white girl had sat down without checking seats, thus displacing me temporarily. I was polite, yet her husband was stunned when I announced that I was assigned to the row. The bitch was annoyed that I spole up, and other travelers began to heckle me for saying anything, since a little white girl (about ten) was alone. By then, pregnant me, had had enough of these bigots going from New Orleans to Houston and some to St. Louis. so I had to school all of them on several facts. 1) I paid for the seat. 2) However they were used tio treating Blacks in TX, MO or AUS/NZ would not work with me. 3) I insisted that the flight crew enforce the seat assignments. When I disembarked, I was looked at with fear by the few Blacks that boarded during the exchange, although no rage or profanity occurred. One bigot chimed with others that they hoped I had a good trip and went to church to which I responded that I would more than they ever could, since none bought one thing I had in life! In other words, I waas ready to become "Bitch Ryan" instead of Mary Williams (a pregnant Black woman brutally lynched with erh fetus in Valdosta, GA around 1919). NEGATIVE

When living in New Orleans years before Katrina, I had to moonlight after my marriage ended, since academic there are paid near the pits of all U.S. places. A friendly NZ tourist came to the shop and offered that he had a Maori wife who would have like to meet me. He shared an e-mail which I lost. POSITIVE

A Maori dance troupe came to New Orleans for cultural venues, and I was the unanimous selection to emcee the show at the accelerated school I worked at as librarian. Of the tattoos the office staff saw, they were reluctant to connect with them otherwise. These were mostly minority staff in a location near St. Charles Avenue in a faux voodoo and crime site! The show was a hit. POSITIVE

I have been invited by Child Migrants Trust clients to Australia. Their first international conference was in New Orleans (2001), America's largest seaport. I was the lone Catholic layperson who attended, since I am a pro-active Catholic appalled at their treatment which paralleled the Stolen Generations timewise and with deceitful and evil means of taking children from their families. Their revelations were awful. POSITIVE

At my daughter's Ivy League alma mater, one of her best classmates was a student from Perth. Her sweetheart was an athlete that visited AUS with her and relocated there after school. He is American and Black. POSITIVE

Because Americans have received some bad reviews as exchange students hosts, I tried as a mother and friend of two white sisters to make their charges welcome, along with my daughter. They were friendly, yet lacking in common courtesy, such as "Thank You", and I felt as if they were of the ilk that either never has connected with Aboriginals or Blacks from anywhere. I got the feeling that they were surprised to encounter educated Blacks that did not live the negative stereotypes in the media worldwide. I would not interact with them again for these reasons. As teens, age will prove their ultimate characters, yet I believe that by 1st grade, most of us have evolved. Cultural values can last. No, I would not like for my child to ever have white friends like them - neither here nor there. NEGATIVE

Having shared all of this, the opposition to National Sorry Day and the belief by some Australians that Aboriginals are either the lowest people on earth or less than human (blogs and YouTube comments) is disgusting. Jimmy Governour was wrong to murder. I have awareness of the African diaspora presence in AUS since the First Fleet to the early 1900's up to now, from the first "bushranger" to activists concerned about the indigenous man, yet how can I abide bigotry elsewhere when U.S. racism still exists here so much? All who desire to go "Down Under", do so. My jury is still out for all of these reasons. I wonder if the same Australians who marry Blacks here, like the husband of Leslie Uggams and the father of Soledad O'Brien and those who love Tina Turner are oppressors of Aborigines there. Perhaps not, I hope. When I was younger, they were classified in anthropology as Caucausoid. Now, these human beings are classified as a separate race, Australoid, with the least intellect and like Neanderthals. Why?

Good night, and G'day!

Wars: large scale racism.

Brendan from Down Under — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:42:56 -0800

I agree Bruce.

One way of denying our own racism (or any other undesirable aspect of human nature) is to accuse different cultures/groups/individuals of being so. We all have yukky stuff just waiting for time, place and power to surface. Accusations of racism so often come from the inner spin doctor.

I believe every human being is "racist" but most human beings don't consciously want to be. There are many other cheap ego trips; sexism, feminism, misogynism etc etc.

For example. I have no doubt that, if we Australians made mass weapons of destruction, then we too would not understand why people in other cultures don't consider it a privilege to have their bodies and homes shredded by them.

Australia's Reputation for Racism

Bruce — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:37:47 -0800

I'm an African-American who lives in Washington, DC. Growing up here, I've met people from everywhere. I've met Australians at the World Bank I admire. Smart, well-read, funny, well-travelled folks. I also have friends who are African-American who have visited Australia and loved it. But one reason why some might think that Australia is racist is the Russell Crowe film, Romper Stomper. Another reason is the history of treatment of the aboriginal peoples. Yet another reason is because there are a lot of people from Hong Kong who have relatives in Australia routinely say Australia ia racist. I think the truth is probably that if you are looking for jerks, you'll find them all over the world, in any city, town, or nation you choose.

Wow! Ignorance really isn't

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:24:23 -0800

Wow! Ignorance really isn't bliss...

Australia, fair

brad — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 00:25:56 -0700

I’ve arrived this morning in Melbourne, a very pleasant city in which I haven’t allocated enough time, as per usual. Lots of interesting food, seems very livable with great transit, pleasant spaces and parks and architecture. And also surveillance cameras, everywhere. And warnings about stopping terrorism even though there hasn’t really been much here.

Once again I wish there were simple agencies to rent you all your tourist things so you didn’t have to pack them or worry about them. As I wished for before, there was a Vodaphone store in the airport arrivals lounge that sold me a SIM card for $30, though to get a really good deal you have to buy another $50 (AUS, 37.5 USD) of airtime.

My tour will take me now to Adelaide briefly, then up to Darwin to stay in Kakadu national park, then to Cairns (reef, of course) and finally ending in Sydney on the 17th, including speaking at the AUUG open source and unix conference on the 19th. Should be a great trip, and I’ll try to blog other observations about Australia.

Some immediate ones: Most people have told me they felt australians were great friendly people. My cab driver (black) said he loved Australia except the people were the most unfriendly in the world… Race may have something to do with this, I fear. I’m told my (barely) Canadian accent will sound sexy here.