Australia - 'Black is ugly', 3-year-old at Disney event told

[chaleigh26]

What I also find offensive is that Australians have to be drunk to defend someone and not wanting to cause a scene. That's a lot of crap!! I don't know where your from but that's not how most Australians are. Of course there are racists and I find the ones who are the most racists to Aboriginals are actually people born overseas.

 

[pukasonqo2]

What I also find offensive is that Australians have to be drunk to defend someone and not wanting to cause a scene. That's a lot of crap!! I don't know where your from but that's not how most Australians are. Of course there are racists and I find the ones who are the most racists to Aboriginals are actually people born overseas.

actually, i was called an "abo" by white australians in different occasions.
the one i remember quite clearly was being in a museum, watching a video in an exhibition about aboriginal australia when two white, private school kids (high school) walked in and called to the rest of their classmates: "hey, there is an abo in here!"
it took me a bit to realise they were talking about me, there was nobody else in that part of the exhibition
racism is not only a problem of white people problem, happens all across races but, taking into account that conquest and slavery were done mainly by the english, spanish, portuguese and french then we can see why it seems that white people are more racist than other races

 

[chaleigh26]

Yep white people are racist just like in every country you will find ignorant small minded people. A minority of this generation of Australians are racists but the way some posts are being overly exaggerated. Australians are pretty easy going and laid back people and usually treat people how we find them.like I previously mentioned about the poor treatment of Aborigines, I have found they are usually Australians born overseas and Feral Bogan scum that have racist remarks. I don't doubt for a second that Samara had these disgusting remarks said to her by the other mother and her children.

 

[Nova]

Quoting you again, but I have a rather large group of friends from the Dominican Republic and I was rather surprised to discover that "claro" skin is more valued than dark or "oscuro" skin, as are features which are more Caucasian or Asian than African.

I once spent an entire (and I mean ENTIRE) afternoon with a friend in a salon in DR, where she had her hair straightened, ironed, stretched, whatever and the stuff they used was STINKY, and it took all day! And when we left she was still not happy that her hair wasn't limp and lank like mine. I wasn't sure what to say (I was really young then) but it made me very aware of how her culture made her feel that the "whiter" she could look, the better.

And as a pasty white outsider (who was so graciously welcomed in the months I lived there), I was very aware of that skin-color hierachy and I felt conspicuous and just awful. (Again, not because of the people, who were warm and accepting: but because I had friends who thought they needed to be lighter to be better.

When you noted your surprise at it only taking a couple of generations to lose all physical Aboriginal appearance, it reminded me of those women in DR who wanted to marry men lighter than them so their babies would be "claro". I will never get why it matters, but that is because I am "white". I can try to understand, but can't.

Elie, I have a scholar friend who is a Brazilian specialist and has spent considerable time there. Although Brazil prides itself on being "nonracial", she says the truth is far more complicated: the country has many more categories on the black/white spectrum than we do in the U.S. and, yes, the Caucasoid features tend to be privileged.

 

[Nova]

Gitana, where did I accuse you of any prejudice? My first post wasn't even a reaction to you - it was in response to posts 6 & 9. I'm a little perplexed by your defensiveness. I stand by my first comment, as I was offended by the suggestions the mother is a scammer.

Sure, racially abusing a toddler is horrid and cruel. But there are several Australians here saying this story rings true from what we know about racism in our country. I don't see how similar reported examples make it more believable. You don't think some racists cross the line into verbally abusing a child? Pretty sure worse things have happened in the name of racism. Why didn't no one else stand up? Maybe the shopping centre was noisy, maybe other parents were too busy to notice, maybe other people were just as stunned. Maybe the woman made the remark because she knew no one would hear or do anything. Australia is a mix of kind tolerant people and deeply entrenched racism, like anywhere.

Brightbird, I really appreciate the information on Australian history.

If Gitana1 got the wrong impression, it might be because you quoted her post before talking about being offended that anyone would question the news account. Frankly, if you quoted me in that post, I would have been equally defensive about it. But I'm sure you two can work out the misunderstanding.

***

Gitana1, in your list of things that make you wonder, you mention that adult racists usually lay off children; that has been my experience, too. But isn't the story here that a white child told the little girl she was "black" and "black was ugly"? In my few experiences of people using the n-word with AA children, the offender was always also a child.

 

[zwiebel]

Watergardens has issued a statement on FB now, saying there's no place in the shopping center or Australian society, for racism.

Nothing about any investigation though. Maybe that's because what was said by the adult wasn't actually illegal? Or is racial abuse illegal in Australia?

I would have thought the adult could at least be banned from the center though, if cctv could be found.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...=top_level_post_id.1080865425276821&__tn__=*s

 

[zwiebel]

Looking at this photo of the center, I really would have thought both the aisles and interiors of the shops lining them would be covered by security cameras.

There would be a huge difficulty in putting out any captured still photo of the adult woman I suppose, if she isn't wanted for any crime. Also, identifying her in public would risk identifying the minors too. But maybe security could keep any photo at hand and issue a ban if the woman is spotted, in the way they do for shoplifters?

Maybe that would open up the risk of a lawsuit though. Sigh. I just don't know.

https://m.facebook.com/watergardens..._=top_level_post_id.1080865425276821&__tn__=C

 

[Nova]

I went back to check. According to the first post, the adult woman "merely" asked why the dark-skinned child was dressed up as a white character. Now most of us will agree the question was stupid, unnecessary and inconsiderate; but it isn't actually a racial slur.

(It reminds me of another incident that was reported by a poster here where her dark-skinned child picked out a light-skinned Barbi to buy and a "helpful" sales associate found a dark-skinned doll and asked the child, "Wouldn't you rather have this Barbi?" Again, stupid, unnecessary and thoughtless, but hardly a crime.)

It was the woman's child who said to the little girl, "You are black" and "Black is ugly."

 

[zwiebel]

Samara tried to rub her skin off.

Isn't it about time Disney made a movie set in Australia? - loads of weird and wonderful (and scary) wildlife there, and if the casting director happened to need a beautiful little Native Aboriginal princess to star, I think I could point him or her in the right direction....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-Elsa-Frozen-black-tried-scrub-skin-off.html

 

[zwiebel]

I went back to check. According to the first post, the adult woman "merely" asked why the dark-skinned child was dressed up as a white character. Now most of us will agree the question was stupid, unnecessary and inconsiderate; but it isn't actually a racial slur.

(It reminds me of another incident that was reported by a poster here where her dark-skinned child picked out a light-skinned Barbi to buy and a "helpful" sales associate found a dark-skinned doll and asked the child, "Wouldn't you rather have this Barbi?" Again, stupid, unnecessary and thoughtless, but hardly a crime.)

It was the woman's child who said to the little girl, "You are black" and "Black is ugly."

Yes, you are absolutely right. I forgot. It doesn't look like a dang thing can be done.

 

[zwiebel]

A little Australian princess who leads a pack of Tasmanian wolves on a hunt for something precious stolen by a giant dodo, would certainly be more exciting than Skippy the bush kangaroo. As both those creatures are extinct it would also mean no animals would have to be used in the making of the movie.

 

[Trident]

Gitana, where did I accuse you of any prejudice? My first post wasn't even a reaction to you - it was in response to posts 6 & 9. I'm a little perplexed by your defensiveness. I stand by my first comment, as I was offended by the suggestions the mother is a scammer.

Sure, racially abusing a toddler is horrid and cruel. But there are several Australians here saying this story rings true from what we know about racism in our country. I don't see how similar reported examples make it more believable. You don't think some racists cross the line into verbally abusing a child? Pretty sure worse things have happened in the name of racism. Why didn't no one else stand up? Maybe the shopping centre was noisy, maybe other parents were too busy to notice, maybe other people were just as stunned. Maybe the woman made the remark because she knew no one would hear or do anything. Australia is a mix of kind tolerant people and deeply entrenched racism, like anywhere.

Post #6 is mine. I asked if there were any other witnesses to this incident apart from the mother. So far, to my knowledge, none have come forward. I find it truly frightening that asking a simple question gets me labeled as an "ist", as in racist/classist. It scares the 'ell out of me that we are getting to the point of not being able to question anything - I believe we've all seen that scenario go down before in this world and it wasn't pretty.

 

[Knitty]

Yep white people are racist just like in every country you will find ignorant small minded people. A minority of this generation of Australians are racists but the way some posts are being overly exaggerated. Australians are pretty easy going and laid back people and usually treat people how we find them.like I previously mentioned about the poor treatment of Aborigines, I have found they are usually Australians born overseas and Feral Bogan scum that have racist remarks. I don't doubt for a second that Samara had these disgusting remarks said to her by the other mother and her children.

BBM - Classism is no better than racism.

 

[gitana1]

Brightbird, I really appreciate the information on Australian history.

If Gitana1 got the wrong impression, it might be because you quoted her post before talking about being offended that anyone would question the news account. Frankly, if you quoted me in that post, I would have been equally defensive about it. But I'm sure you two can work out the misunderstanding.

***

Gitana1, in your list of things that make you wonder, you mention that adult racists usually lay off children; that has been my experience, too. But isn't the story here that a white child told the little girl she was "black" and "black was ugly"? In my few experiences of people using the n-word with AA children, the offender was always also a child.

The mother apparently started it. That I thought was odd. The rest was plausible to me as kids don;t know how to filter the hate they're taught:

'The lady in front of us turned around to Samara and said "I don’t know why you’re dressed up for because Queen Elsa isn’t black",' Ms Muir said.

'I asked the woman what she meant by the comment and then one of the woman’s young daughters screwed up her face, she pointed at Samara and said "you’re black and black is ugly". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-family-wearing-favourite-Frozen-costume.html

BBM.

 

[gitana1]

I went back to check. According to the first post, the adult woman "merely" asked why the dark-skinned child was dressed up as a white character. Now most of us will agree the question was stupid, unnecessary and inconsiderate; but it isn't actually a racial slur.

(It reminds me of another incident that was reported by a poster here where her dark-skinned child picked out a light-skinned Barbi to buy and a "helpful" sales associate found a dark-skinned doll and asked the child, "Wouldn't you rather have this Barbi?" Again, stupid, unnecessary and thoughtless, but hardly a crime.)

It was the woman's child who said to the little girl, "You are black" and "Black is ugly."

That's not true:

“The lady in front of us turned around to Samara and said ‘I don’t know why you’re dressed up for because Queen Elsa isn’t black’,” Ms Muir, from Ballarat, told The Courier.

“I asked the woman what she meant by the comment and then one of the woman’s young daughters screwed up her face, she pointed at Samara and said ‘you’re black and black is ugly’.”

Ms Muir said Samara burst into tears and covered her face.

Emphasis by me. http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/re...nd-black-is-ugly/story-fnu2q5nu-1227410641110

The fact that a grown adult picked on a toddler in a racist manner is what seemed unusual to me.

 

[gitana1]

Samara tried to rub her skin off.

Isn't it about time Disney made a movie set in Australia? - loads of weird and wonderful (and scary) wildlife there, and if the casting director happened to need a beautiful little Native Aboriginal princess to star, I think I could point him or her in the right direction....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-Elsa-Frozen-black-tried-scrub-skin-off.html

Oooh!!! That would be a fantastic idea for a movie!!! Pitch time! Aborigine mythology and history is beautiful and fascinating. So is Australia itself. And this little girl is an absolute doll. She'd be great in such a part - although I'd like to see it done as a cartoon.

 

[Trident]

Oooh!!! That would be a fantastic idea for a movie!!! Pitch time! Aborigine mythology and history is beautiful and fascinating. So is Australia itself. And this little girl is an absolute doll. She'd be great in such a part - although I'd like to see it done as a cartoon.

Well, I don't know about a cartoon, but I think a movie/whatever about Aboriginal mythology/history would be a great thing. It's about time black people embraced/created their own black heroes/heroines. I believe we would all love that and might learn something in the process.

 

[Trident]

Oooh!!! That would be a fantastic idea for a movie!!! Pitch time! Aborigine mythology and history is beautiful and fascinating. So is Australia itself. And this little girl is an absolute doll. She'd be great in such a part - although I'd like to see it done as a cartoon.

Giving this a bit more thought, why not a gypsy movie/whatever? There are so many cultures/myths we do not know about, and surely there are a great many writers out there who could do these themes justice. Yo, why not do it instead of hating/fighting/killing each other? I think you had a great idea -someone, please DO it.

 

[Brightbird]

Brightbird, I really appreciate the information on Australian history.

If Gitana1 got the wrong impression, it might be because you quoted her post before talking about being offended that anyone would question the news account. Frankly, if you quoted me in that post, I would have been equally defensive about it. But I'm sure you two can work out the misunderstanding.

***

Gitana1, in your list of things that make you wonder, you mention that adult racists usually lay off children; that has been my experience, too. But isn't the story here that a white child told the little girl she was "black" and "black was ugly"? In my few experiences of people using the n-word with AA children, the offender was always also a child.

Well heck, now I'm even more confused. I only quoted Gitana because I was responding to her post that quoted my first post. Lol

Post #6 is mine. I asked if there were any other witnesses to this incident apart from the mother. So far, to my knowledge, none have come forward. I find it truly frightening that asking a simple question gets me labeled as an "ist", as in racist/classist. It scares the 'ell out of me that we are getting to the point of not being able to question anything - I believe we've all seen that scenario go down before in this world and it wasn't pretty.

It wasn't my intention to label anybody anything. I was suspicious of what appeared to me as doubting the mum's credibility, so I wondered out loud why. I'm a big fan of people questioning things, regardless of whether I agree or how I feel about it, but it goes both ways.

 

[Brightbird]

There are some really great Indigenous movies out there - The Sapphires, Rabbit Proof Fence, Ten Canoes, Charlie, and the TV series Redfern Now to name a few.