Why racism is so hard to define and even harder to understand

Editor's note

Racism is one of the most pressing and incendiary issues in Australia today. Whether it’s “African gangs”, challenges to Indigenous rights or assumptions about migrants from the Middle East, race and racism undergird much of our public debate. Today we begin a series that examines some of these thorny issues. We start with a graphic representation of race and racism in Australia, alongside an explainer by Alana Lentin on why racism is hard to define and even harder to understand.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

Twelve charts on race and racism in Australia

Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation

Australia is becoming more diverse, but these charts show we are still predominantly an Anglo society with strained relations with other cultures, particularly Indigenous and Muslim Australians.

now.

Why racism is so hard to define and even harder to understand

Alana Lentin, Western Sydney University

People of colour, Indigenous people, Muslims and Jews are regularly lectured to on racism by people who have never experienced it.

Politics + Society

Liberal Julia Banks defects to crossbench as Scott Morrison confirms election in May

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The Victorian backbencher has announced she is quitting the party to join the crossbench, launching a scathing attack on the right wing of the Liberal Party in the process.
In crime reporting, we should ask better questions about the relevance of religion and ethnicity

Denis Muller, University of Melbourne

As recent events show, we might get better media reporting if journalists questioned authorities more closely on the relevance of ethnicity and religion in crime reporting.

Education
Finkel: students, focus on your discipline then you’ll see your options expand Alan Finkel, Office of the Chief Scientist Chief Scientist Alan Finkel writes we can do a better job of teaching students to master a discipline and maximise their post-school opportinities.

Science + Technology

What are tech companies doing about ethical use of data? Not much

James Arvanitakis, Western Sydney University

Tech companies have vowed to do better when it comes to using data ethically, but most ethics initiatives are neither enforced nor enforceable.
Researcher claims CRISPR-edited twins are born. How will science respond?

Dimitri Perrin, Queensland University of Technology; Gaetan Burgio, Australian National University

We don't know anything about the health of the baby girls who are reported to have been born. But it's clear scientists around the world are shocked.

Cities

Just how ‘city smart’ are local governments in Queensland?

Tan Yigitcanlar, Queensland University of Technology; Laurie Buys, Queensland University of Technology; Md. (Liton) Kamruzzaman, Monash University

How smart are our cities now? In Queensland, a study of all 78 local government areas reveals major gaps between the ten leading the way in becoming smart cities and the rest of the state.

Health + Medicine

What happens when labour is induced and when is it necessary?

Elaine Jefford, Southern Cross University; Lyn Ebert, University of Newcastle; Samantha Nolan, Southern Cross University

When a pregnancy lasts 42 weeks or more or complications arise, women will need to consider being induced.
Mozzie repellent clothing might stop some bites but you’ll still need a cream or spray

Cameron Webb, University of Sydney

It's tempting to ditch the mozzie creams and sprays, and switch to clothing that has its own “built in” bug repellent instead. But the technology isn't quite there yet.

Business + Economy
Redefining workers in the platform economy: lessons from the Foodora bunfight Alex Veen, University of Sydney; Caleb Goods, University of Western Australia; Tom Barratt, Edith Cowan University It is the Australian Tax Office, not the Fair Work Commission, making the big waves with the Foodora case and the future of the gig economy.

Arts + Culture
Guide To The Classics: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Antonia Pont, Deakin University After Shakespeare and Laozi, Kahlil Gibran is the highest selling poet ever, largely thanks to The Prophet, a set of 26 prose poems.

Environment + Energy
What would a fair energy transition look like? Franziska Mey, University of Technology Sydney; Chris Briggs Making the transition to a sustainable energy future also means ensuring that affected communities - such as Australia's coal workers - aren't left by the wayside.