Racism: The Real Matrix?

May 06, 2003

Racism: The Real Matrix?

Like Morpheus said: "It is all around us. Even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window. Or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work. When you go to Church. When you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."

Matrix actor felt racist 'vibe'
Matrix star Laurence Fishburne said he felt racism while living in Australia, describing the "vibe" similar to America in the 1950s.

The African-American actor and Oscar nominee said he loved Australia and considered himself a Sydneysider after spending long periods in the city shooting The Matrix sci-fi film in 1997-98 and the two Matrix sequels in 2001-02.

But during his first stay in Sydney Fishburne felt "a little bit isolated".

"There were some experiences that I had and more so than experiences there's a vibe, there's a vibration, there's a feeling," Fishburne told a group of international journalists during a press day in Los Angeles to promote the first of the sequels, The Matrix: Reloaded.

Asked if he felt racism in Sydney, the actor replied: "Yeah".

The actor was not verbally attacked but said he and three African-American members of his staff - a make-up artist, security person and assistant - who accompanied him to Australia for the original Matrix shoot had the same experience.

"There's a vibe. There's no malice," he said.

"The only way for you to really get (understand) this is you need to go to a country where there is nothing but black people and you need to be there for a month-and-a-half or two months and you need to be in a room one day when you are the only white person in a room and then you'll get it.

"But you won't get it by me telling you 'Oh, this happened or that happened' because nothing awful happened and nobody called me a bad name or any of that shit.

"What I'm talking about is something that cannot be described, it can only be experienced..."

Posted by jsmooth995 at May 6, 2003 01:45 AM

Comments

Racism is not just an American practice.

Posted by: Cal Ulmann at May 6, 2003 01:41 PM

"Racism is not just an American practice"---I agree!
Racism could be practiced by anybody regardless of what race you are belonging to. Whether it is intentional or not, when you go to a region where majority is one race (or ethinic group), you are bound to encounter racism. Sometimes racism happens because some races are not familiar with other races since they never had an exposure before. (When Japanese first encountered "westerners", Japanese called them "ke-tou" which means "hairly beast" or "hairly goblin") People are skeptical about things they have not experianced before.

As a Japanese living in US, I think I know exactly what Lawrence is talking about here. When I moved to states, my entire school was about 90% whites, 5% blacks, and 5% the others... and I was "the others" so I know what he means by "vibe". It is hard to explain by you can feel it in the air and some of the tensions people gives when they are around you.

Regardless, we as humanity still have lot to go before we can abolish racism (if that's possible).

Posted by: DJ Musashi at May 6, 2003 02:56 PM

It's true, Australia is on a 1950s homogenous kind of vibe, though the cities have a lot of Asian people and other non-white people in 'em. But the countryside, if you ever go there, and Queensland, for example, are lily-white. My friend who's Asian and was touring around Queensland said he got pointed at and stared at a fair bit. And there are some skinheads there too, though you tend to find them in the outer suburbs, not the inner city. It was very odd for me to go over there and see no black people in the cities, as I had only been to American cities before.

Posted by: Gabe at May 7, 2003 01:44 PM

I think Lawrence Fishburne is being a touch paranoid. Especially since he's only claiming to feel a 'vibe' as opposed to overt racism. What does this prove??? Being the only black person in a place does not necessarily mean that everyone there is racist.

To an extent, I know what he means. Being an Asian-Australian, I often feel isolated when I go to a country town where almost everyone is white. I have to tell myself that these people are not used to seeing people like me so of course they're going to stare. It's human nature. When you actually get out of that paranoid frame of mind, you'll realise that people are actually very nice and accepting. So do yourself a favour- don't isolate yourself by automatically thinking the worst of people. Try to understand them, try to get them to understand you, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you don't at least try, then you're being as bad as the people you claim to be racist. You're essentially being racist yourself. One example- I was in Jamaica recently, staying in places were I was the only non-black person. Being referred to as Miss Chin (a nickname for Asian girls) at first irked me. But I decided not to let that bother me and in the end I made some really great friends there- some of the great people I met were actually the ones who called me miss Chin! I realise now that Miss Chin is not necessarily a racist term.

Sydney is a wonderful and tolerant place to live. It is also a very multi-cultural society. Mr Fishburne is doing it a great disservice by not mentioning the diversity of people here, letting non-Australians assume that it is a 'white' place. That would mean that I, my family, and other non-white Sydneysiders don't exist.

Sure i've encountered prejudice here, some genuine, some a product of my imagination (for example, being ignored by a shop assistant, only to realise that she did this to everyone- black, white or otherwise). Mr Fishburne, don't let your own prejudices blind you to seeing its good side.

Posted by: MIchele at October 26, 2003 06:35 PM

well said michele.

this is a great country!!! what is it about you amreicans always saying that australia is like america in the 1950's???? grrr.. and even funnier is the fact that lawrence fishburne said it when he wasn't even born until 1961! backward time travel, perhaps? tsk tsk.

just because a city doesn't have many black people living in it, doesn't make it racist by default. it's a shame that Lawrence said this as i have been a big fan of his for ages. still am.

Posted by: max at October 26, 2003 06:50 PM

As far as I know, no governmental restictions exist against black people in Australia so it is not like America in the 1950's.

Posted by: Cal Ulmann at October 27, 2003 02:41 PM

i think what lawrence fishburn is saying is partly the truth i believe every counry obviusly has a percntage of ppl who are still not comfortable with race being both australian and aboriginal i feel isolated at times but theres always 2 sides 2 tha story giving that most aboriginals r either poor or in jail would leed ppl beleive that they r dangerous but that goes 2 say that they r paranoid just as much as blacks or asians for that matter 2 believe such a thing its like they say u cant judge abook by its cover but taking into consideration given tha past african americans,asians and aboriginals have had i would not be suprised if ppl thought we were dangerous i mean 4 a short while i felt hared 4 wat early settlers did 2 aboriginals so many years ago n sum of us for that matter r so court up in hatred for wat they did that they find every little thing 2 be racist but as for me personaly growing up in brisbane queensland australia and excepting the past of my ppl i still think ppl r racist hell even my close friend whom i trust says he can not trust me due 2 that im aboriginal so im with lawrence on this one.

Posted by: KrysIS at February 27, 2004 09:34 AM

KryslS,

That's really really sad about what ur best friend said. It's good that he could be that honest with you but at the same time do you really want him as a friend?

I know I'll never fully understand what it's like to be in your shoes but I really hope for yourown sake that you learn to trust some people again. We're not all bad!

max

Posted by: max at March 31, 2004 11:38 PM

Lawrence was right - there is a vibe in Australia

And its not just about the imbalance in population numbers - its more about the expectation that the non-white whould self efface and act in a submissive manner ... thats the vibe

Posted by: Gab at April 18, 2004 12:16 PM

The problem with the concept of racism is that as it is identified in modern society, it criticizes truthful opinions, rather than malice, or at least often makes no distinction between the two.

For example, to say that a person is black, is therefore distinct from a person who is white, and can therefore be said to be distinct because they have black skin, is a simple truth. No-one would deny that, notwithstanding other differences (i.e. not just skin colour). However, for example, to opine that black people are less intelligent would be viewed as racist. Why? Ultimately, the statement is either true or false, but even if it is false, it can't make the person racist. This is because a statement of a belief of fact or of a situation is not in itself 'prejudiced'. "Facts" can't be racist!! In both above examples, that's to say allegedly non-racist and racist statements, these are simple assertions about the differences in race.

The reason the first is 'not' racist and the second 'is', is because the first isn't pejorative or in anyway significant or damaging to black people - in this case. So what if they have a different colour skin? It's just a colour, after all. However, the second is viewed as racist because it can be seen to be detrimental. But because it may be detrimental through what it says, it doesn't mean it's racist; surely by that same degree, anything that was complimentary would be racist? No, the point about racism is that it makes no sense as a label unless malice is present in the claim or comment.
If you hold the opinion that based on experience, data or evidence you feel that black people are less intelligent that white people, then you should be allowed to think that as a point of fact. After all, we're allowed to think that there are certain medical differences between races without being accused of racist opinions (e.g. blood types, sickle-cell, etc).

The fact that the label 'racist' makes no distinction between a statement derived from malice and one derived from an honest, thought-through opinion shows the problem with the whole issue. Because quite simply, if it was on the basis of evidence your GENUINE opinion that blacks were less intelligent than whites, you shouldn't be classed with the same people who willingly go out to persecute people solely on the basis of their race. Otherwise, we're on the very dodgy ground of saying that one thought is as bad as one horrific action.

Around the mid-80s people in the UK were nervous of calling blacks black; this was because they thought they might be perceived as racist. Why? Because the underlying rule is that it's not truthfulness that is considered or even looked at in the race debate, it's whether the race in question could be looked down upon were people to be influenced by your opinion. So favourable opinions are in, disfavourable, or even neutral[!] ones are out.

The point above demonstrates that even the most ardent 'non-racists' are not genuine, because even they get caught up in their own silly rules and oppressive dogma. They get confused because they don't know when you can be truthful and when you can't; any condemnation of anyone on the basis that they were being truthful is inherently wrong as it is misdirected. No good comes out of such deception and concealment.

Lastly, the viciousness with which people are accused of racism and shunned accordingly is so a) calculating, b) enjoyed and c) pursued incessantly by its progenitors that it possesses all the hallmarks of the black and white thinking of so-called racists. It also closely mirrors the attributes of fasicm. If you make a point-by-point comparison of the attributes of the anti-racists and the so-called racists, you will find they match; after all, they both:

1) Show extreme intolerance
2) Ignore rational debate
3) Blur truth and emotion into one
4) Deflect criticism by changing direction or 'shouting down'
5) Enjoy the punishment of their foe
6) Address the whole issue on an all-or-nothing basis (the hallmark of intolerance)

Posted by: chris at June 3, 2004 09:05 AM

I am a black male from North Carolina in the US. I am thinking of moving to Australia; either Brisbane or Sydney. I am taking my wife with me who is white. From what I have seen and read so far about Australia it seems great. I am a little concerned about the fact that there are hardly any black people there. I got the info from Australias own census site that there are less than 1% aboriginal/"other" people there. I am used to being one of few if any black people in rooms and classes etc, but I am also used to having black people around in a general way. I just want opinions on what to expect and if black people other than native aboriginals or their children are treated differently. Any info/opinions on interracial couples would also be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Posted by: James at June 14, 2004 04:34 AM

There is a distinction to be made, however, between being, on the face of it, multicultural and actually being substantively multicultural.

Sydney claims to be multicultural because it has a lot of different cultures in the one place. That, on the face of it, seems to be a good thing. But if you look at things a bit closer, you will realize that it is really a facade. For example, there is not much mingling between cultures. If you just quickly look around, you'll, in general, see whites with whites, Asians with Asians, and blacks with blacks. This also seems to be reflected in the fact that certain areas of Sydney are populated by people of particular races (in general).

People are 'friendly' because it is necessary to get by in society that is forced into multiculturalism. They smile and they shake hands and such, but that is about it. There is no substantive acceptance in their hearts. It is a procedural, shallow friendliness...

Although contentious to say, i must assert that the dominant race (white Caucasians) would have a limited perspective on things. That is, it would be very difficult for them, to rely on their life experiences, and say that Australia is not racist. A white Australian male will not be subject to the racism that an Australian Asian male would be. They can, I think, only rely on hearsay, conjecture and speculation. It would, indeed, be a novel thing to see a white person proclaim to everyone that Australia, where the dominant race is white, is not racist towards Asians. So novel in fact that it rings of the apartheid in South Africa�

Note that I talk about general observations. Of course not everyone is racist and I do have extremely good friends who are of different racial backgrounds to me, but this does not defeat the fact that, in general, Sydney does have that racist vibe. As such, I am in agreement with Fishburne.

Posted by: Jami at June 18, 2004 01:35 AM

RE James.

I was born in Sydney and have lived here for 21, almost 22 years now, and James, if you come to Sydney, you will not encounter explicit racism as such, but i think, like Fishburne said, there will be a vibe. There will be immediate uncomfortable-ness purely because you�re not white. Once people get a chance to know you, however, they will become more accepting of you. The problem is, of course, whether they give you that chance� From what I�ve heard of Brisbane (some of my Asian mates have lived in Brisbane), I�ll have to say that it would be more racist than Sydney.

Note of course that Australia is in general a very good place to live. People are very friendly and things, its just not the substantive kind of friendliness and acceptance that you want though. It is a procedural, shallow kind of friendliness that is characterized by customs, eg. You will never be short of hearing, thank you�s, sorry�s, good morning�s, how ya goin?�s. But these occur out of procedural custom as opposed to the person actually believing what they say or having a genuine interest in the outcome of those customs.

Of course, Sydney is no worse than any other place. You will enjoy here, regardless of these arguments because most other places have worse habits. I am merely making observations that can provide a basis from which normative measures can be taken� Hope this helps.

Posted by: Jami at June 18, 2004 01:51 AM

It's true that in sydney, you may encounter some subtle form of racism. Hell, a white friend of mine said something racist in front of me and didnt even know she was being racist! But she was merely ignorant not malicious as some 'educated' whites are.
Non asians look at your slanted eyes, your yellow/tan yellow skin and they'll see you as an asian, a stereotype from some crappy hollywood flick. Even if you're not chinese, they'll automatically assume ur chinese.
Pppl're never gonna change. the ignorance and bigotry is hardwired to their souls. That's what they are and they'll never change.

Posted by: Adventurer at June 30, 2004 11:17 AM

I live in Melbourne and it suprises me how different our Sydney and Melbourne are. Melbourne is less multi cultural than Sydney, that is for sure, but there is virtually no racism here when you compare the two. THis is as Melbourne really dont have those ghetto type social problems sydney has as the suburbs here are tend to be more mixed. When i visited sydney i was shocked at how many suburbs with minority concentrations there were. Just by listening to talkback radio in both cities, you will know how white people think of minority groups. In Sydney, whites tend be more fearful of minority groups and racism is a big issue while in melbourne the whole race issue is not that big a deal

Posted by: Savage at July 1, 2004 10:09 PM

Too bad the weather in Melbourne is dismal! haha.

On a more serious note, however, if what you say is true, Savage, i might consider living in Melbourne in the future.

Adventurer, i also agree with your observation that the Hollywood Asian stereotype has perpetuated the problem. Unfortunately, that same behaviour has been incorporated into Australian television. I recently saw an ad that showed an Asian with a heavy accent making a fool of himself as though it is funny. It is very perplexing to say the least.

Posted by: Jami at July 21, 2004 10:37 PM

I live in Perth. Being Asian, I've encountered some racists. For example, once in the city, me and some of my Asian friends were walking, minding our own business, and some lady walked past and grumbled "Bloody, bloddy Asian!". Another story was when my friend, an international student who just arrived in Australia, sat with her friends in McDonald's having their conversation in Chinese. Some guy were yelling at them, "This is Australia. Speak English". But then some other people told them it's ok, Australia is a free country. Having stayed here for 6 years, I'd say only the minority of people are racist in here. Most of the time people are nice and friendly.

Posted by: winnee at July 24, 2004 06:39 AM

Winnee, i agree with your final statement.

But check this out: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/28/1093518164853.html (Racism in Newcastle)

Totally horrendous...

Posted by: Jami at August 29, 2004 11:10 AM

Mr Fishburn is correct, the racism is not visible but psychological which is even worse...

Australia is pretty racist in most part of the states even though they don't like to admit it...

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