In October 2015, Indigenous journalist Stan Grant gave a speech declaring that racism ‘is killing the Australian dream’.
Declaring the Australian dream as ‘rooted in racism, Grant said the legacy of Australia’s dark past continues today, citing the lower life expectancy and higher rates of incarceration still experienced by indigenous Australians. This was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald shortly before Australia Day 2016.
‘The Australian dream – we sing of it and we recite it in verse: ‘Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free’. But my people die young in this country – we die 10 years younger than average Australians – and we are far from free.’
Grant said Australians need to acknowledge the two centuries of ‘dispossession, injustice and suffering’ faced by his ancestors. ‘We are in so many respects the envy of the world, but I stand here with my ancestors and the view looks very different.
‘Every time we are lured into the light, we are mugged by the darkness of this country’s history.’
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