Racism and the media
By Sujatha Fernandes
In 1984, the right-wing historian Geoffrey Blainey first argued that Asian immigration should be cut because Asians compete with "Australians" for jobs, education and scarce resources, and this would eventually lead to intensified social conflict.
At that time, Blainey's opinions were mainly confined to far-right fringe groups such as National Action and the League of Rights. Yet his ideas were seized upon by the establishment media and, for almost a year, were broadcast over television, in papers and on radio talk shows in a bid to win popular support for them.
Blainey's opinions were useful for the government and owners of industry and business at a time when they needed a scapegoat for the economic recession.
But as the economy picked up and Australian industry began its drive into Asia, Blainey faded into the background.
However, on May 29, the Australian ran an interview headlined "Blainey denounces 'racist' Aboriginal groups" on its front page. It quoted him as claiming that Aborigines, "having been discriminated against, now have the upper hand and really are becoming the great racists in our society".
The interview begins by calling Blainey a "prominent historian", to give an aura of academic legitimacy to his views.
Why is Blainey suddenly sought out by the establishment press after such a long absence? His comments are part of the conservative backlash that is attempting to undermine Aborigines' struggle for land rights.
An article in the May 30 Sydney Morning Herald gives another indication why Blainey is again being given such prominence. According to it, "Blainey congratulated the [NSW] Premier, Mr Carr, for questioning Australia's current immigration intake". It seems that Blainey will be trotted out whenever there's some scapegoating to be done.
This demonstrates very clearly one of the mechanisms by which racism is maintained in our society. The establishment media very deliberately seek out and publicise racist propaganda whenever it's in the interests of big business. This is hardly surprising, since they themselves are big businesses.
Similarly, when Labor or Liberal politicians need to distract attention from their unwillingness to tackle social and environmental problems, neither hesitates to play the racist card.
The alternative media have a special responsibility to campaign against racism and attempts by establishment politicians and media to divide us from one another along racial lines.
Unlike big business and its politicians, most of us have no interest in the continuation of racism and discrimination. These evils, like environmental damage and unemployment, are the products of an unjust, profits-before-people system, which will remain in place until we unite to fight for a socially just society.
[Sujatha Fernandes is a member of the socialist youth organisation Resistance.]