This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/02/five-questions-to-eugenia-flynn-on-racism-and-loving-australia

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Five questions to Eugenia Flynn – on racism, and loving Australia Five questions to Eugenia Flynn – on racism, and loving Australia
(about 2 hours later)
Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.
Tell us about who you are Tell us about who you are: where are you from, what do you do?
I live in Melbourne, but my family is originally from Darwin in the Northern Territory and I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. My father was Tiwi and Larrakia and my mum was Teo Chew Chinese from Malaysia. I identify as both Aboriginal and Chinese and also as Muslim, as this is my chosen faith. I am strongly feminist, anti-racist and write on my blog Black Thoughts Live Here.I live in Melbourne, but my family is originally from Darwin in the Northern Territory and I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. My father was Tiwi and Larrakia and my mum was Teo Chew Chinese from Malaysia. I identify as both Aboriginal and Chinese and also as Muslim, as this is my chosen faith. I am strongly feminist, anti-racist and write on my blog Black Thoughts Live Here.
I work as the operations coordinator at the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development and am also working toward a graduate diploma in arts, majoring in creative writing – I'm passionate about arts and culture! In my spare time I am also the treasurer of the Islamic Council of Victoria and as part of my anti-racism and social justice work I am heavily involved with RISE Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees where I am on their advisory group.I am a very family oriented person and am married to a strong Aboriginal man who is also an amazing musician, Robert K Champion. I come from a family of strong women and in addition to my mother, I am the youngest of four sisters. We are all passionate foodies and I am desperately trying to get one of them to come on My Kitchen Rules with me! Both my husband and I have big extended families spread across the north and the west of Australia and I love getting out of Melbourne to visit them, even though my home and work is here for now.I work as the operations coordinator at the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development and am also working toward a graduate diploma in arts, majoring in creative writing – I'm passionate about arts and culture! In my spare time I am also the treasurer of the Islamic Council of Victoria and as part of my anti-racism and social justice work I am heavily involved with RISE Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees where I am on their advisory group.I am a very family oriented person and am married to a strong Aboriginal man who is also an amazing musician, Robert K Champion. I come from a family of strong women and in addition to my mother, I am the youngest of four sisters. We are all passionate foodies and I am desperately trying to get one of them to come on My Kitchen Rules with me! Both my husband and I have big extended families spread across the north and the west of Australia and I love getting out of Melbourne to visit them, even though my home and work is here for now.
What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?
I typically tweet a lot on different articles and issues that come my way regarding race, gender and politics –particularly from the perspective of a youngish Aboriginal, Chinese and Muslim woman. I usually focus on issues to do with Aboriginal affairs, islamophobia, feminism, racism, refugees and asylum seekers, but also general politics as well. I also tweet about different arts and culture events and happenings and you may occasionally get a foodie shot or two!I typically tweet a lot on different articles and issues that come my way regarding race, gender and politics –particularly from the perspective of a youngish Aboriginal, Chinese and Muslim woman. I usually focus on issues to do with Aboriginal affairs, islamophobia, feminism, racism, refugees and asylum seekers, but also general politics as well. I also tweet about different arts and culture events and happenings and you may occasionally get a foodie shot or two!
I'm currently trying to take control of my health – like many other Aboriginal people diabetes and other chronic illness have strongly affected me and my family, so there may be some motivational and health related tweets as well.I'm currently trying to take control of my health – like many other Aboriginal people diabetes and other chronic illness have strongly affected me and my family, so there may be some motivational and health related tweets as well.
What issues are you most passionate about and why?What issues are you most passionate about and why?
Racism – and how it systemically and personally affects us. I feel like if we can work to reduce systemic racism it will lead to the betterment of our (Indigenous Australian's) position and therefore the betterment of Australia as a whole. The very document that gives Australia its mandate, the Constitution of Australia, still has racist clauses and this country was founded on the racist belief that our people weren't really worthy of being counted as humans, therefore the British Empire could claim terra nulius. Australia has not properly redressed either of these two foundations of its systemic racism, and I want to see and work towards this being resolved. Until we achieve resolution, we are going to see ongoing racism with each successive wave of migration.Racism – and how it systemically and personally affects us. I feel like if we can work to reduce systemic racism it will lead to the betterment of our (Indigenous Australian's) position and therefore the betterment of Australia as a whole. The very document that gives Australia its mandate, the Constitution of Australia, still has racist clauses and this country was founded on the racist belief that our people weren't really worthy of being counted as humans, therefore the British Empire could claim terra nulius. Australia has not properly redressed either of these two foundations of its systemic racism, and I want to see and work towards this being resolved. Until we achieve resolution, we are going to see ongoing racism with each successive wave of migration.
I believe that arts and culture can play a big part in this anti-racism work alongside critical analysis of race and racism in Australia. For me it is about national identity – if we can get Australians imagining new ways of being (accepting) as well as identifying what we don't want to be (racist) through the arts then I think we will be moving positively toward being a better Australia.I believe that arts and culture can play a big part in this anti-racism work alongside critical analysis of race and racism in Australia. For me it is about national identity – if we can get Australians imagining new ways of being (accepting) as well as identifying what we don't want to be (racist) through the arts then I think we will be moving positively toward being a better Australia.
Who are your role models, and why?Who are your role models, and why?
I have a lot of role models, first and foremost my parents and my sisters. My mother went through very difficult circumstances in Malaysia and was an amazing powerhouse of love, hard work and the kind of smarts they can't teach you in school. My father moved from Darwin to Adelaide to achieve great things in the higher education sector and in the community; at his funeral there were tributes from across Australia and that was very moving for me.I have a lot of role models, first and foremost my parents and my sisters. My mother went through very difficult circumstances in Malaysia and was an amazing powerhouse of love, hard work and the kind of smarts they can't teach you in school. My father moved from Darwin to Adelaide to achieve great things in the higher education sector and in the community; at his funeral there were tributes from across Australia and that was very moving for me.
My sisters and I have been through so much with the passing of both of our parents at what is a relatively young age. I admire all three of them for the resilience they have shown, their leadership and all they have achieved in their careers. Bee works in mental health for federal government, Jacqui works in finance at a management level for a global wine company and Angela is the creative producer of the Spirit Festival. They really are my heroes.My sisters and I have been through so much with the passing of both of our parents at what is a relatively young age. I admire all three of them for the resilience they have shown, their leadership and all they have achieved in their careers. Bee works in mental health for federal government, Jacqui works in finance at a management level for a global wine company and Angela is the creative producer of the Spirit Festival. They really are my heroes.
What are your hopes for the future?What are your hopes for the future?
My hope for the future is a more mature Australia. I love my country, in that it is where my family have lived for thousands of generations, and I am hyper critical of it because of this. People say "if you don't love it leave it", but I believe that blind love can be dangerous.My hope for the future is a more mature Australia. I love my country, in that it is where my family have lived for thousands of generations, and I am hyper critical of it because of this. People say "if you don't love it leave it", but I believe that blind love can be dangerous.
Australia as a nation has faults and one of those huge faults is the way we treat those who are not rich, male and white. I think if we can work toward a more equitable society it will make this country even better than it already is.Australia as a nation has faults and one of those huge faults is the way we treat those who are not rich, male and white. I think if we can work toward a more equitable society it will make this country even better than it already is.