Towards Afrocentric Counternarratives of Race and Racism in Australia

Abstract

This article looks at the everyday life and realities of some of Australia’s most recent immigrant communities, by shedding light on the experiences of black Africans in Queensland. Particularly, this article examines the experiences of black African migrants and refugees living in South East Queensland, to better understand how race, skin colour and immigration status interact to shape their everyday lives and social location in Australia. Data were collected from 30 participants using qualitative research methods. The theoretical approach employed synthesises concepts from identity, blackness, race and racism, whiteness and critical race theory. The subjective experiences of the participants interviewed indicate that skin colour still matters in determining life chances for black Africans in Australia. While the empirical focus is specific to Australia, this article contributes to the research literature in valuable ways, both from a theoretical perspective and in terms of a comparative contextualisation of racism. Introduction Queensland, the third most populous state in Australia, is home to many migrants and refugees. In more recent years, Queensland has accepted many black African migrants and refugees. Many of these Africans have come to build new lives, change their families’ circumstances and give new hope to their dreams (Jakubowicz, 2010; Udah, 2018). These African settler arrivals, though a very diverse group, add an important chapter to the history of immigration in Australia broadly and Queensland specifically. This article