Conversations About Race

At SCHS we are fortunate to teach and learn within an extremely diverse community. Many of the texts studied in English classes have explored questions related to race, culture and identity. These include Unpolished Gem, The Sapphires, City of Ghosts, To Kill a Mockingbird, September and The Lieutenant.

Since abolishing the 'White Australia Policy' and opening its doors to immigrants from all around the world, Australia has prided itself on being a nation which embraces multiculturalism and celebrates diversity. There have been some significant and shameful blemishes on this vision of a harmonious society, notably the Cronulla Riots in 2005 and more recently, the attacks on Indian students and discrimination against people of Islamic faith.

Any discussion of race, racial discrimination and racialised violence in Australia must address the relationship between Indigenous Australia, the Australian Government and the rest of the Australian population. This is one of many difficult problems facing our nation, as it encompasses complex issues relating to reconciliation, native title, health, incarceration rates and funding to remote Indigenous communities. 

Meanwhile, in the USA the burning of black churches along with the display of the confederate flag triggers associations with deeply rooted bigotry, violence and slavery of African Americans. And alongside this recent display of hatred, the 'Black Lives Matter' movement continues to grow, as Americans face their own confronting issues related to racial profiling and shootings of African-Americans by police officers.

As much as we might all like to believe that we could live in a world that was 'colour-blind', a world in which skin colour or creed didn't matter, a world in which 'all men were created equal', the reality is that we categorise, define and judge people based on many characteristics. 'Race', religion and skin colour are among the strongest markers of distinction between humans and yet many people often feel uncomfortable when discussing these topics. So what are we all so afraid of? I invite you to start the conversation.

This short documentary features interviews with white people on the challenges of talking about race. By Michèle Stephenson and Blair Foster on Publish Date July 1, 2015.

Also, read this: Debunking the black male stereotype