Young People's Experience of Racism

Here are some of many examples of what an impact racism has on todays young people.

- I'll be walking in the street and people will stare at me, just because I am black. (15 year old young person of Sudanese background)

- "Do you run?" Just because I am of African background people stop me in the street and ask me if I am a runner. (16 year old young person of Eritrean background)

- People automatically assume that I can't speak English and speak to me really slowly, just because I wear a hijab. (18 year old young person of Somali background)

- I am of East Timorese background, the police automatically I think I am a drug dealer when they see me walking in the Street. I am sick of being asked for ID. (East Timorese Born 21 year old)

- I am an 18 year old Somali woman who came to Melbourne 7 years ago. I choose to wear the hijab to cover my hair, you can still see my face.

- Footscray is a very multicultural area but often when I go to the city or other suburbs you still get the odd person who stares at me just because I wear the hijab and have black skin. I have got used to the stares. Last year I was walking down the road in Footscray and a bus full of older people drove past as the bus passed a older white male yelled out gesturing an abusive finger, "blackie go back to where you came from!"

At first I was stunned as I was just walking in a familiar area and usually feel comfortable in this area. I then began to feel that everyone around me was also looking at me as if I was an alien. I felt like I didn't belong and that I didn't have a right to walk in this area because I was black.

I have been taught to respect my elders so it was tough being abused by an older male. Most of my friends have had similar experiences. It's difficult being a young person and being told you don't belong. It made me question weather Australia was really a multicultural society when racial abuse such as this is so common.

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It is wrong for these racist actions to be accepted in society today. Do something to stop these illegal victamisation of newly migrated young people's, join WYPIN!