IS AUSTRALIA A RACIST COUNTRY? 'Why do you ask?' 

Most of the time, them wanting to touch your hair is pure curiosity. The beads I put in the kids braids always leave them staring in awe. The bold ones would walk up to me and ask how did I do that 😂 they find it extremely creative and I always take it as a compliment.

I haven't faced racism in Aus - because I didn't come here and try to change their culture into my own or preach about how things are in my own country. If I wanted to be back there, I'd be back there. But I'm here so I opened my mind, embraced everything Aus and have made so many wonderful friends who accept me into their circles.

Someone walked up to me, and was like; hey, You're an African right? I responded yes. Then she goes, do you know Nigeria? I answered in affirmation, and then she was like, can I touch your hair? I answered yes, you can touch my hair. It's fine by me and the conversation went on and on, talking about Africa and some stuff she watched on the internet where Africans were depicted as poor, hungry, and technologically deprived people. I showed her the game apps I developed on my system to enlighten her that we are all the same but separated by geographical locations and made distinct by our adaptability features which include our skin colours. In my opinion, some people are inquisitive to learn and feel what makes us different from them. She was not racially biased in any way. We got talking and today she's one of my few friends in Sydney. I think most of us with coloured skin see ourselves through the lens of racial differences and walk our minds through it. Of course, we tend to play safe and be in our safe corner when we're in public but in most cases, no one will come to your face to call you unprinted names except in some occupations like social work where participants can get heightened and say all sorts of things. To me, racism is a thing of concern, but not a thing to be worried about. Just as @chioma stated, we get called out even in our very own Country. Australian government is so hard on issues of racism and all citizens are aware of that. There are so many dark-skinned coloured aboriginals. We are not alone in our colour and accent differences. I am more worried about tribalism in our Country than racial discrimination.

It’s good to know that you’ve not “experienced” racism to a considerable degree. I think it’s a fair question to ask, however, as there are many of us who have faced these injustices and would like to know to what degree does racism occur in certain areas. I don’t think people walk around expecting to experience racism or carrying it around like luggage; however, wisdom would lend us the opportunity to recognize when such an instance is front and center. Thanks for sharing your viewpoint.

As always thanks for sharing. Your channel is very useful for people who plan to relocate to Australia

Preach! We share the same mindset on this topic. 9:47 to 11:25 you put it in the most articulate way and it’s so beautiful to hear. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. ❤

This video is just AMAZING !!! Thanks for sharing your feeling about it and speak the truth @chioma :)

Goodstuff chioma love yo mindset so true and honest Very eloquent U explain well my sistoooo👍

Yeah you make a really good point when you say, why should you have to be the one that's doing something about it when you're the one that cops it. I don't think you should have to be constantly thinking about it, that sounds exhausting! As a white person who moved to Australia from Scotland I don't experience racism against me. I have sometimes had a bit of anti immigrant stuff, like you say it's few enough occasions that I can count, such as being asked, how come you get to come here? Or when other white people say quite racist things to me and assume I'll agree which is really awkward, like, they'll say, oh those immigrants should go back where they came from. And I'm like, umm, you know I'm an immigrant right? And they're like, oh, you're different! Ok, why am I different mate? What is it about me...? Yeah.

I clicked this video with a heavy heart because of find the constant conversations of racism and victimhood to be nauseating. Thank you!

Australia is a great country and also beautiful. we have ethnicity bias in Nigeria and many problems based on cultural norms which I don't feel comfortable with because it brings condemnation and resentment.

One of the best vids sis... I absolutely share the same sentiments as you've expressed here walahi! ❤

I can remember an incident when my sons were very young and a little black boy with his Mummy was staring at them. Suddenly he reached out and touched my youngest son's white blond hair. We live in South Africa and he may not have seen many white people before. I thought it was rather sweet myself. I think your attitude towards racism is very wise. I agree that people are being taught to be offended and to be victims. Yes, there will always be racists, but you don't have to live your life as though it's something you have to deal with on a daily basis.

absolutely loved this video!! I loved your perspective and I will carry it as a life lesson

Chioma, your take on racism, tribalism etc is so true. I have never thought of it that way. 'Ism" is everywhere. Why do we concentrate so much on the colour of our skin. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for your sharing, as always you are opened on these topics. The way you look at your journey in Australia through the lense you have decided to do it is commendable. We are All the creation of the almighty God. You know we face racism in our home country…so…. I agree with you it is the way we approach life is what matters. Just live our life.

Hello Chioma, Thank you for constantly enlightening us with your videos. I have a question (not related to this video🙏🏽). I wanted to ask for your suggestions on organizations or ministries I could intern at (in Nigeria) to gain work experience enough to be eligible to apply for an MSW.

Australia is very good at creating the Status Quo depending on your race. But it is difficult to know it because it's built systematically, just as you pointed out.

I haven't experienced racism myself but Indigenous Australians especially will tell you a different story. Working in child protection has exposed me to a side of society I would have preferred not to know about.

I don't understand people who want to touch a black person's hair. Even when I was a kid, I never thought to do that no matter how "different" their hair was from mine. For adults to do this, I just am perplexed how they could be so comfortable wanting to touch a stranger's hair...

Love you so much!! We share similar values. I also don't see anything wrong with someone touching my hair if permission was asked as some of them are just curious. Same way I've asked them things their culture too which they don't perceive as racism. Like you said hypervigilance might just be the issue. Great video💙

Bieng from Africa tribalism is more painful then racism

Wow… very well said. It’s not your problem. It’s the others persons..

Thought provoking video. Thank you

There are a few societies where it is hard to ignore the prejudices that present themselves with being different, but in most western countries(from personal experience and that of friends) it is almost always helpful to assume it doesn't exist on a personal level.

Have you ever considered that the black Africans coming to Australia (started to move over in big numbers mid 80's) might be racist themselves?I can tell you i believe they are.A little story,I went with a lady from Mozambique after she arrived in Perth for some years and mixed regularly with her friends.And guess what,they didn't want anything to do with our indigenous Australians.I won't go in to the reasons for this but all i can say is well like you said "it's time to move on",we can understand the differences and that's all this rubbish about racism is about.Blacks need to be honest and come out and tell the truth.

Please how do I book a section with you ma

Its a crime to be this smart

I always feel like classism is worst than racism. Classism is harder to defend against since in many cases people can hide their true intentions.

I really liked this video because it embodies the mindset I believe everyone should have. We shouldn't go about our daily lives trying to detect offence. If it comes, and indisputably so, then you can address it. Otherwise, just keep life moving. In my early days here, I'd move for people to share my seat on the bus and they would prefer to stand. I could have gone on thinking they were being racist but it's something I saw that was a common practice. Regarding the Snake question you said you weren't going to address, I think sometimes people just have mental blocks they aren't aware of. Regarding Australia, people would cite snakes, or that it is too far, yet for similarly priced tickets, when all the time of flight and layovers are computed, travel from North America to a place like Nigeria turns out to be similar in duration eventually. Fun (?) Fact - This video sent me researching about the prevalence of snake bites globally and guess who has fewer snake bites than MOST OF SUBSAHARAN AFRICA? Australia! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology_of_snakebites

Thank you sister for sharing, I am so tired of my african people complaining about racism, while even here they still practising tribelism among themselves. let me tell you i have been more discriminated by my african people than others

I think we need to prepare for some form of discriminatiom.However the laws are there to protect everyone.People need to use it when needed.Do have evidence though and have courage.

Thank you😊

yes it's rather offensive to expect someone to behave in a certain way, especially out of some sort of "political correctness"

I believe wisdom requires that we ignore those jibes and focus on our missions and goals. Otherwise, these things will snatch away our sanity as intended and we become the greatest losers because of its impact on our psychology. Matthew 5:1-16 should help. Thanks a lot Emmanuella.

Youa re right Chioma

Consistency 🎉🎉🎉

Also Australia's humour is a thing alot of migrants and immigrants here don't realise we take the piss our of our mates and if rhye happen to be a different ethnicity rhen we're gonna use that in situations we can it's not hate it's just always been that way

I grew up in Australia (I no longer live there) and in 13 years I never saw a single snake, and we lived in rural Queensland and NSW. Flies, ants and other creepy crawlies, the heat, everything from grass is out to get you, and the people have become tough in response to such an environment.

Is racism in Australia? I believe we are not talking about Nigeria. 😉

What I think is that I still want to immigrate to Australia.

How are you sisi

I like your mindset and rational thinking. I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist but I definitely think mindset plays a massive roll. There is often too much assumption making when it comes to racism. Sometimes it feels like people are looking for it, because they often call out racism in a situation where it doesn’t exist. People also forget that racism can go both ways. I know Ive definitely had my share of experiences. For example, once I tried engaging in conversation with an African woman at work, she gave me a mean look then looked me up and down as if to say why are you even talking to me. I don’t know what experiences she’s had or how she’s been brought up to view “white” people like me but I think hurt people hurt people. So I let it go and didn’t let it bother me. I believe you should never group people in a box, you should always judge people as Individuals, not one person is the same.

Same for my girlfriend whose family don't want me to marry her because am from lagos state (Yoruba)

When you are told you are the chosen race or the chosen people they cant see you in an expensive car while they scraping by. Its just jealousy not superiority. ❤

B1tch you are so based , wise and cool…. Very good content, my best wishes

no such thing as racism...

I can recall in 1995 travelling back from Riverview train station by ute to Banyo, there was another tradie ute in front of us on the rear window there was a sticker with the slogan “White Power”. New arrivals will have to adapt to this slogan.