Defining racism

A common criticism of many programs aimed at addressing the problems facing some Aboriginal communities (such as the NT Intervention) is that because many (and sometimes all) of the people affected by such programs are Aboriginal people, these programs must be racist. I certainly believe that forcing some treatment on a person on the basis of their race is racist. But what happens when the majority of a group of people experiencing a problem are of one race, or are at least over represented? Is this an expression of racism?

For example, The Australian newspaper recently (22 Feb 2012) reported on restrictions to smoking in public areas in NSW. These new laws are expected to carry hefty fines. It is generally recognised that Aboriginal people are more likely to smoke than non-Aboriginal people. Does this mean that Aboriginal people are being targeted, and therefore the recipients of more racism?

I don't believe so, but I could well imagine that in some parts of the state of NSW which are densely populated by Aboriginal people, many of them will be fined. Of course when this happens, in addition to the possible accusations of racism, there will be cries that the people can't afford to pay the fines.

There will also likely be some who believe that their smoking is the result of colonisation, and therefore see themselves as not responsible for their personal choices. How should authorities intervene in a problem so as to avoid being seen as racist, when one particular section of the demographic is over represented?

As another example, consider the over-representation of Aboriginal people in jail. Many see this as an expression of racism. "Is this how we treat our nation's first people?" come the cries from activists.

Some critics believe that the over-representation in prisons by Aboriginal people is due to police targeting Aboriginal people, and unfair sentencing by the courts. It is interesting that some activists believe Andrew Bolt is racist because the courts concluded that he was, yet they believe that the same courts get it wrong when it comes to sentencing Aboriginal people for alleged crimes. Can you have it both ways?

There could well be some rogue coppers out there, and it is certainly the case that judges and juries are human, and therefore subjective. For example, someone who is well represented by a good lawyer and presents well in court is more likely to receive a more lenient outcome than someone who does not present well.

However, I suspect that such biases only account for a small portion of the over representation of Aboriginal people in jail. It is most likely, that criminal activity is correlated with education, and socioeconomic status. Such links are not difficult to understand.

If we tackle the problem of poverty, unemployment, etc., then other problems such as high jail rates (which is really just symptom of the aforementioned problems) will be resolved.

However, some seem to be more concerned about tent embassies and the constitution that addressing the more fundamental issues. I agree with Mick Gooda when he was reported recently in The National Indigenous Times (22/02/2012) as saying "I don't advocate getting rid of jails . . . But we have to change the narrative in this country that more jails make safer communities. Stopping people offending and reoffending does". Education and jobs is one way that will stop the offending and reoffending. And it is not too difficult to see what the claim, that racist police officers are the cause for the high incarceration rates of Aboriginal people, does for race relations in this country.

In an online article by Frank Furedi, he states "The promotion of the idea that racism is prevalent . . . prompts people to interpret each other's behaviour and language through the prism of race". I am not denying that there is racism in Australia, but there is a danger that every inequality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians will be seen as the result of racism.

In a country the size of Australia, there will always be pockets of people who are racist, as racism is an expression of the racist's deep-seated insecurity, and, there are always insecure individuals. I am sickened when I hear of accounts where an Aboriginal person is refused service or asked to sit somewhere not of their choice, simply because they are Aboriginal.

However, I don't believe this makes Australia a racist country, any more than Australia is a rich country because we have many millionaires. Most Australians are not racist, but where true racism exists, it needs to be weeded out.

So what are the consequences of blaming racism for many of the problems Aboriginal people experience? I believe that casting racism as a major contributor to the problems facing Aboriginal people is demotivating. If people believe that they live in a racist society, then they have a ready-made excuse for failures and disappointments and are therefore less likely to be proactive in addressing the problems in their lives, thus keeping people locked into disadvantage.

Once in the state of disadvantage, special "Aboriginal-specific" programs are then employed in an attempt to address this disadvantage. The situation here in Australia is similar to that with race relations between Blacks and Whites in the USA. In his book "What's race got to do with it?" Black author Larry Elder states

[T]his incessant harping about the 'pervasiveness' of racism is not only wrong-headed, but downright dangerous. It diminishes personal responsibility and dupes people into thinking that their salvation rests with more government spending . . . Blaming racism is not just false, it is toxic. It keeps races wary of each other. Watch what I say. Watch for an innocent remark that might be construed as 'racist,' or 'racially insensitive.' Unfounded charges of racism cause us to emphasize differences, rather than our broad deep similarities.

And while focusing on differences may keep the Indigenous industry in business, it only broadens the gap.

So what is the solution? It is likely that racist attitudes are expressed by non-Aboriginal Australians as a reaction to the perception that Aboriginal people receive too many benefits not available to other Australians. Wrongly or rightly, this attitude does seem to exist. When Aboriginal people can compete in the labour market with other Australians (as many of them are already doing), then special services and incentives will less likely be needed, thus promoting the view that Aboriginal people are equal to other Australians.

Further, the view promoted by some activists that people who identify as Aboriginal Australians are culturally different, spiritually different, and have a distinctly different view of the world to non-Aboriginal Australians, and hence require different rules from the mainstream to live by, needs to be questioned. This solution is simplistic, but I believe it is a good start. There is enough good-will between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people; let's continue to build on that good-will.