Racism and Education

Q. What is the difference between Batman and a black man?

I think what is critical to understanding the prevalence of racism in Australian schools is that many of the actions, comments and beliefs that we situate as racist are become increasingly more covert. Like pointed out in this weeks lecture given by Karen, is the prevailing notion that overt racism is not the key issue anymore, but rather, minor covert forms of racism coming to the forefront.

I am not a racist, but others are.

I think that’s the stance most of Australia takes.

We just deny the possibility of racist attitudes when we decide that the manner we approach others with isn’t racist at all.

My opening joke…?

I like to think I’m not a racist, but I won’t lie, I chuckled at the punch line (it’s at the end of this blog, be patient now).

But who’s to say what’s racist and what’s not?

Actually scratch that.

We know what’s racist.

It’s just that when it’s coming from our own lips as opposed to someone else’s we overlook the fact that we’re indulging in racist behaviour.

I cannot help but think of the little racist remarks that I personally have made over my schooling life; tiny comments, personal thoughts that when actualised I would deny as racist but, in fact, are. An example along the lines of this, I can remember a time in high school where I had not done so well in a maths test. I was feeling a little depleted and embarrassed, and when discussing the ranking of the class test with a close friend, I recall saying: "oh, no wonder she's good at maths, she's Asian" about another student. At the time I meant no harm; to be honest I wouldn't have ever thought of that being slightly racist at all. 

But it is through its subtlety that highlights my own inability to recognise my covert racism. The comment was not intended in any harmful measure. It was not declared to anyone else except my friend, but the comment and my verbalising of it, I think is indicative of ways in which schools are still a contentious site of racism through individuals. I think the Vass reading (2012) highlights this through the commentary that schools need to be recognised as a site that subjects are racialised and also a site where subjects are informed about racialised people. 

On May 30th of this year the Sydney Morning Herald (online) published an article in reference to the Eddie McGuire's racist slur (or "slip of the tongue" comment… pffft.) about Indigenous AFL star Adam Goodes. 

Are You a Casual Racist? aims to highlight the causal approach Australians have to racist comments. The article (2013) comments that the "Urban Dictionary defines casual racism as "the art of being slightly racist in a casual fashion. It's when one doesn't really hate people of another colour" but still laughs at jokes at their expense."

Hence why I don't think my comment at school would have ever made me stop and ponder whether I am a hidden racist or not. 

The art of being a casual racist takes form in the way that people tolerate racist jokes or statements by people even though they don't mean to make offence. By not stepping up and saying something only reinforces the racial slur and does nothing to diminish the prevalence of racism in society.

What I would like to point out in this post is that my comment above is something that I've heard many other people voice as well. And in saying that, the far-reaching depth of racism is strong.

We just might not want to admit it.

I know the comment is highly stereotypical of "Asian culture and identity" in Australian schools, but if I and many other people/students use this comment so flippantly the way we do, then doesn't this highlight the covert presence of racism that still exists?

Although we like to think of ourselves as a society that doesn’t tolerate racism, racism isn't something that just disappears because we declare ourselves to not be.

A. Batman can enter a convenience store without Robin.

Haha?

Levy, M. (2013) "Are you a casual racist?" in the SMH Online, accessed 10/09/2013 at <http://www.smh.com.au/national/are-you-a-casual-racist-20130530-2ndyy.html>

Vass, G. (2012), “The racialised educational landscape in Australia: listening to the whispering elephant” in Race, Ethnicity and Education