Sequence 4 | Source: Cronulla Riots — Racialisation of immigrant youth
The racialisation of immigrant minorities in Australia is as old as the history of immigration, but racialised immigrant minorities are today unlikely to lie down, roll over and take it, especially if they were born in Australia. As Ghassan Hage (2008) has argued, these youth are too assimilated to not demand their rights and fight for what should be theirs. To his credit, NSW Premier lemma criticised the racism of the White crowds, and labelled their behaviour as un-Australian. Clearly there is racism among, but not exclusive to, Whites in Australian society; and racism has also emerged from within Middle Eastern communities, as well as from and between many other minorities. This serves to highlight the fact that anti-racism must be a central plank of Australian multiculturalism and policy, and that innovative programs to renew Australian multiculturalism in spirit and practice are required.
Source: Jock Collins in Greg Noble (Editor) (2009) Lines in the sand: the Cronulla riots, multiculturalism and national belonging, The Institute of Criminology Press, Chapter 2 page 40. Republished with permission.
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