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Demonising people of colour is no way to make society safer Demonising people of colour is no way to make society safer
(7 months later)
Sexual assault is a Sexual assault is a serious crime. Like all forms of violence, it stirs strong emotions. The public, myself included, expects and needs to be kept informed and reassured that all efforts are being made to apprehend the criminals, and that justice is achieved for their victims.
serious crime. Like all forms of violence, it stirs strong emotions. The public, myself included, expects But can we make our society safer without demonising people of colour? The alleged gang rape of a a 14-year-old girl in a western Sydney suburb has been almost entirely framed in terms of race. The girl has been described as being of Pacific Islander descent, while her attackers were “men of African appearance”. One of them, a 16-year-old, was arrested and charged yesterday.
and needs to be kept informed and reassured that all efforts are being made to apprehend the criminals, and that justice is achieved for their victims.
But can we make our society safer without
demonising people of colour? The alleged gang rape of a a 14-year-old girl in a western Sydney suburb has been almost entirely framed in terms of race. The girl has been described as being of Pacific Islander descent, while her attackers were “men of African appearance”. One of them, a 16-year-old, was arrested and charged yesterday.
Assuming that no-one talking about someone of African appearance is talking about a white person from Africa, what was the effective call to action here, other than ”keep an eye out for black men”? And what was the subliminal message, other than “black men are dangerous”?Assuming that no-one talking about someone of African appearance is talking about a white person from Africa, what was the effective call to action here, other than ”keep an eye out for black men”? And what was the subliminal message, other than “black men are dangerous”?
For the issuing of a physical description For the issuing of a physical description of an alleged perpetrator to be helpful, it must be accurate and detailed. Otherwise, the very real consequence is the feeding of stereotypes that themselves damage our society. It is hard to imagine a case in a multicultural society like Australia’s where reference to a person’s (assumed) race would help find the perpetrators.
of an alleged perpetrator to be helpful, it must be accurate and detailed.
Otherwise, the very real consequence is
the feeding of stereotypes that themselves damage our society. It is hard to imagine a case in a
multicultural society like Australia’s where reference to a person’s (assumed)
race would help find the perpetrators.
As I write, media reports about the suspected attacker include statements such as “Court papers show the teen’s country of birth as Sudan”. One assumes the writer attaches some significance or relevance to this fact. But because it is unspoken, we are left unhelpfully to connect the dots.As I write, media reports about the suspected attacker include statements such as “Court papers show the teen’s country of birth as Sudan”. One assumes the writer attaches some significance or relevance to this fact. But because it is unspoken, we are left unhelpfully to connect the dots.
The immediate response within the community has been reported on The immediate response within the community has been reported on and detailed by people who participated in public meetings; some members of the ethic groups made them selves available for public comment and co-ordinated a unity walk in the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown on Thursday night.
and detailed by people who participated in public meetings; some members of At grassroots level, the emphasis has been on safety for people to be able to walk the streets, catch trains and go about their normal business. It also responded to the unhelpful and unfair question posed by many – what are the ethnic communities doing to respond to the problem that it created?
the ethic groups made them selves available for public comment and co-ordinated The assumption that non-white communities somehow carry group responsibility for every crime perpetrated by one of their members is a familiar and depressing one. As an Aboriginal woman, I have seen the very real consequences of stereotyping within my own family and my community. I have seen the impact this had on my people’s self-esteem and own sense of security and safety.
a unity walk in the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown on Thursday night. We and other “others” of society are constantly under surveillance, blatantly followed by security guards in supermarkets and avoided on sidewalks, all on the basis of the way our “otherness” is stereotyped. And what are the qualities of otherness? They all look the same: suspicious, deviant, dangerous, criminal. Their communities are secret, they shield criminals.
At grassroots level, the emphasis has been on safety for people As the old joke goes: Overheard on a police radio, an all points bulletin “man seen running down Redfern street, of Aboriginal appearance, and answers to the name of ‘cuz’.”
to be able to walk the streets, catch trains and go about their normal Most of the people sucked into the tsunami of racial stereotypes are law abiding, decent and civic minded. How does this help make for a safer society? Why would a member of a demonised group want to be identified, especially when the impetus for reaching out to them is a criminal act, with inquiry coached in a prism of stereotypes?
business. It also responded to the unhelpful and unfair question posed by many – what are the ethnic communities Our problem is not fixed if you then create a whole new one. We have to be smarter. The people reporting on these need to have different values, and see life through a different prism. We must also broaden the diversity of the police force, so every section of society doesn’t play by the same songbook.
doing to respond to the problem that it created? Though the public’s interest has been sparked by one abhorrent incident, the issues are broader than racial tensions between two ethnic groups.
The assumption that non-white communities somehow carry group responsibility for every crime perpetrated by one of their members is a familiar and depressing one. As an Aboriginal woman, I have seen the A crime was committed, the criminals need to be apprehended, the justice system needs to do its work while the rest of us get on with cool, calm heads outside of the courts.
very real consequences of stereotyping within my own family and my community. I
have seen the impact this had on my people’s self-esteem and own sense of
security and safety.
We and other “others” of society are
constantly under surveillance, blatantly followed by security guards in supermarkets
and avoided on sidewalks, all on the basis of the way our “otherness” is stereotyped. And what are the qualities of otherness? They all look the same: suspicious, deviant, dangerous, criminal. Their communities are secret, they shield criminals.
As the old joke goes: Overheard on a police
radio, an all points bulletin “man seen running down Redfern street, of
Aboriginal appearance, and answers to the name of ‘cuz’.”
Most of the people sucked into the tsunami
of racial stereotypes are law abiding, decent and civic minded. How does this
help make for a safer society? Why would a member of a demonised group want to be identified, especially when the impetus for reaching out to them is a criminal act, with inquiry coached in a prism of stereotypes?
Our problem is not fixed if you then create
a whole new one. We have to be smarter. The people reporting on these need to have
different values, and see life through a different prism. We must also broaden the diversity of the
police force, so every section of society doesn’t play by the same songbook.
Though the public’s interest has been
sparked by one abhorrent incident, the issues are broader than racial tensions
between two ethnic groups.
A crime was committed, the criminals need
to be apprehended, the justice system needs to do its work while the rest of
us get on with cool, calm heads outside of the courts.