Combatting prejudice: African Australian refugee youth

Some get into trouble. Some congregate in gangs for safety and friendship and police and public naturally don’t like this. The boys are not savvy and can be drawn into drugs, alcohol and crime, especially assaults. They respond to difficulties with anger and violence. Then a bad reputation for all spreads from the proportionally few instances. Prejudice because they look black, unfamiliar and a bit scary becomes hatred.

What results from criminal records and jail? Do they get mixed up with more bad crowds? Do they receive special separate aid to return as competent and confident citizens to job and education opportunities?

Some may or not be terrorists, arriving already hating, or driven to hate or paranoia. What happens then?

The media reveal some of the hostility they may face. “Melbourne’s Indian and Pakistani taxi drivers are being bashed and robbed by African youth gangs” (Herald-Sun). “The hot spot for inter-racial violence … Between May 8 and August 2 there were 12 reported robberies on taxi drivers in (western Melbourne suburbs) … In every case the victims told police their attackers were African and there was always more than one. Knives are the weapon in most taxi robberies, but meat cleavers and screw drivers have also been used." This news must not be censored, but how can effects on readers’ prejudices be mitigated?

What can be done? People are a little unwilling to invite strangers into their homes whose reputation may be wild or destructive.

African women can be easily employable for their charm and hard work. Their beauty gives opportunities for status jobs, including modelling. Males can have problems unless outstanding at sport. The patterns of Black American experience that go down generations could be repeated here, especially if teen pregnancies and single motherhood are not prevented.

Much needed aid is also needed by other Australian youth and adults too.

Mentors for every African boy under 21 would be a good start: to keep in touch with them into adulthood. These mentors would ensure they are seen as friends and helpers, and could be replaced if they do not get on. All boys need adult friends outside the family - it is sad that so much mistrust now permeates society.

Make literacy easier for people who have never had any experiences or idea about reading. Test out experimental innovations to let learners find out what helps them - including self-help with DVDs and online, and an initial learning spelling starting with a one-sound-one-symbol pronunciation guide also used in dictionaries. School media departments could develop them. They could be available from workplaces, libraries, after-school homework clubs and in back pages “for new readers” in print media.

Remand should not be introductions to criminal associations but opportunities for education, knowing about the wider world, discovering talents and potential, and better alternatives for pleasure and comforting than drugs and liquor. A study by Mission Australia compares the average cost of $150,000 per year to keep someone in the juvenile justice system to the $2,500 or so for a diversionary program to prevent them getting into trouble in the first place. Mission Australia’s community-based programs are reported to reduce offending rates by up to two-thirds.

A current government initiative gives indigenous delinquent youth experience working on cattle stations. This could suit Dinka youth too, coming originally from cattle-raising villages and loving cattle.

African youth have more chance living in less cramped housing for large families. It is also in Australia’s long-term interest to encourage smaller families generally, to give all children better economic conditions, as well as to stabilise the population for tomorrow’s needs. Nowhere should baby bonuses and child payments be essential for family income.

Emotions run high on all these matters, yet they must be thought about coolly and with kindliness.