White People Need to Face up to Their Collective History

Let’s Act on That Now!

The Covid 19 virus has unified different people in terms of fear, suffering, restrictions, mask-wearing and so on.

Why are we so inclined to unify against negative phenomena but stumble when it comes to unifying for humanity?

Think of the recent media coverage of the virus. Posters full of advice about how to wash our hands. Almost daily updates on the current state of contagion. The encouragement to wear masks, or in Australia’s case, not to do so. The polite social distancing that resulted in large, red crosses on shop floors. Changes to businesses that happened overnight. The desire to look after the well-being of others. The quiet respect.

Imagine if our media was stacked with instructions of how to avoid being racist, daily doses of what respectful behaviour looks like and scary penalties for those who go against the grain. How would it feel to see nations’ leaders competing for popularity as a result of their rapid actions against racism, their assistance to ethnic minorities, or even their awareness of history.

In that world we wouldn’t witness the Australian Prime Minister declaring with gusto that there had been no racism in Australian history. Where has he been?