Ever since I realised that my Year One teacher could have used some creative license and given the extremely talented, albeit slightly chubby Indian girl (me), the part of The Virgin Mary in the nativity play, I have felt that roles in Australian print and visual media are far too conventionally cast. Of course, I did not draw this conclusion when I was six years old, despite being the smartest person on the planet (according to my dad).
But growing up watching Oprah Winfrey become the most influential woman in the world reinforced to me that a person’s value transcends their racial background, and they can grow to be a significant voice in society – if given the right opportunities by media power-brokers willing to take risks.
Of course, you also have to be brilliant at what you do – like Lee Lin Chin and Waleed Aly. This week’s announcement of their Gold Logie nominations was so wonderful to hear, especially after the anti-mosque banner at Friday night’s AFL game, and the anti-Islam and anti-fascist violence at the Halal expo in Melbourne, which had made for a worrying weekend for all decent, peace-loving Australians.
I was thrilled to learn of the nominations of Aly, a Muslim who openly discusses his religion, and Indonesian-born Chin, as it reminded me that Australian culture has a long way to go before it is totally dominated by racial discord, no matter much the grossly misnamed ‘pro-Australia’ groups and the rise of ISIS have all of us concerned for our future. The nominations made me feel safer, and gave me hope.
But do not think for a second that Aly and Chin were nominated in the name of ‘diversity’ in the wake of the #oscarssowhite controversy – they were nominated because they are both excellent at their jobs, and are immensely popular. Aly and Chin have rocked Australian television, not only by representing sections of our community that are under-represented, but also by being influential in many other ways not directly related to their ethnicities.
Top Comments
Enforcing diversity for the sake of diversity can result in racism.
In looking specifically for a "rainbow" of colours, some people of the majority colour might miss out despite being deserving. There is a real trend lately of demonising white people, particularly white males. We're all of value, and in a predominantly white society, they are going to be represented as a majority. Would you accuse Bollywood of being too Indian?
Note: I am not white.
About half of the Australian population now comes from a non-English speaking background. There is nothing like that degree of representation in the media or the seats of power whether in the public or the private sectors. That means that there is systemic discrimination in the society and the economy.
You could break that "half" into dozens of categories - it doesn't change the fact that the majority of Australians are white Englidh speakers. As they are the majority, it's no wonder they make up 4/6 of the nominations! Hong Kong is a melting pot with a majority Asian Chinese population, but they never get slandered with cries of discrimination. It just really puzzles me as to why a white majority is something to be ashamed of? All people are worth the same.
Sigh, no LiSao, nobody even once suggested making the noms all white...my point was that, as a white majority country, the nominations are probably going to be majority white. Why? Because of statistical representation.
Just like I'm guessing that at Bollywood film awards, the nominees are probably going to be majority Indian, because India has a lot of Indians. Not a difficult concept.
I feel like you are still missing what I'm meaning. I'm not arguing against diversity, nor am I asking for nominations to be all white. I'm saying that the 2/6 ratio is about right, it shouldn't really be more than that if you are looking at the situation statistically. My argument is more directed at those arguing that the 2/6 is just 'a start' ("only two POC are represented but it's a start"). In this instance, It is clear why Aly and Chin were nominated - they are popular. But the ideas of racial diversity quotas for anything are grossly unfair to the majority colour. I do maintain my view that the media is becoming increasingly biased against white people, that if they are represented as the majority or win something over a POC it's assumed to be a racist decision with a thinly veiled ruse to promote the whitey. I feel like that takes away someone's merit and deserved win/representation, and isn't fair.
There are no fat people in that category either ... just saying
There's no comparison there. Race is beyond a person's control, being fat is not.