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Hi there - I will be visiting a friend in Oz soon. I am so excited and cannot wait to experience the people and the culture.
Does anyone think or know if I will have a problem with racial discrimination? I know a little about the bad blood with the Aboriginals but as I said I am American so will that matter?
A black female acquaintance of ours visited Austrailia and did not enjoy her stay there at all. She informed us that she was was made to feel very unwelcomed, as well as, uncomfortable by both White and Asian Australlians. She also stated that both groups treated with extreme rudeness. I cannot recall which city in Australia she visited; nonetheless, her experience in Australia was regrettable, and she clearly stated that she would never visit the country again.
I'm African-American and have been four times to Australia but not to the Gold Coast. I know another AA guy who just moved to Brisbane and married an Australian woman and loves it.
I can say I had a great time in Sydney, Melbourne, Ayers Rock (Alice Springs), and Darwin. But, obviously, others' experiences are different.
This is a secondhand story as I've never been there.
A black friend of mine went to Sydney a few years back and absolutely loved it. So much so that he researched emigrating to Australia. He didn't experience any sort of problems in being black, that he told me of at least.
Then, he went back last year and had a completely different experience. He said he got uncomfortable stares and heard racist remarks directed both at him and others and was shocked by how blatant some of the racism was. He was called the 'n' word in a club. At two separate points while over there, tour guides went on rants about Asians and Aborigines. He said he was generally treated better when people realized he was American as opposed to African (there's a very small but growing number of African refugees settling in Australia, chiefly from Sudan, and many Australians aren't taking too kindly to them). He came back a little dejected that his idea of an Aussie utopia had been shattered.
So, it's a mixed bag I guess. I have no clue whether his first experience or the second experience was the norm for blacks in Australia. You may face some problems and you may not. Certainly don't let some racist idiots dissuade you from going or ruin your trip, but just be aware that you may be mistaken for a nationality you're not (i.e. African or perhaps Aborigine) which may carry a negative weight with it, and realize that you will largely be an anomaly while walking the city streets just due to the relatively few blacks living in Australia.
Your friend may be able to offer some insight as well, even if they are not black, into race relations in Australia seeing that they live there.
I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time. I'm jealous. Enjoy yourself!
I'm not a big fan of Australians (and white South Africans). I have worked with many of them in London and find that i'm never on a level with them. It's weird though because I live in California now and the Aussies in LA are a lot nicer (or maybe fake?) then the ones in London. I had a friend that toured there (white guy) and he told me how causally racist they are.
I have no desire to visit that place.
Last edited by Cornerguy1; 07-06-2007 at 05:27 PM..
Reason: inappropriate language
I think it all depends on where in Australia you go. Sydney and Melbourne would probably not pose any problems. Although, there were racial riots (white vs Lebanese) in Sydney last year. Australia still has an ongoing problem with native Australians (Aborigines) I have been to Australia several times and do not think you would have any problems but I cannot say for sure. I think that is the part about traveling, you get to experience things you may not have at home.
G'day, I live on the Gold Coast with my American wife. I don't think you will a problem with racisim here.That's not to say there aren't racists here. The Gold Coast is a large tourist area and there are people from all over here. But I think if you have a friendly demeanour most people will be friendly and polite. Hope you enjoy youre stay
I'm an Ausiie but I live in America now. I am shocked (and embarressed) to hear of those sad stories. I've certainly never seen it forst hand. In general, we tend to find American visitors pretty interesting. (well I do anyway). I hope you don't let a few sad stories deter from going and having a great trip. For each bad story you hear, there are probably dozens of good ones too.
Beware though, the weather is pretty ordinary at the moment. Unusually cold.
Unfortunately, run-ins with racism and idiots can happen anywhere. I have a friend of Indian descent who almost got beaten badly by skinheads in Eastern Europe. Another, a white American, was spit on in France.
These days, though, with tensions over immigrants/refugees running high all over the world, sadly there may be more of these types of encounters. But no one should let these incidents, as horrible as it must have been to experience them first-hand, from traveling to Europe. As the Aussies would say, you should give it a go.
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