‘Official’ discourses of race and racism: inclusion, intent and inversion mediated within journalistic communiqués vis-à-vis the Australian indigenous athlete

Abstract

In May 2008, I wrote to the editor of a Melbourne newspaper pointing out that an article discussing differences between two superstars of the Australian Football League (AFL), one white (team oriented) and the other black (self oriented), conformed to racial dualism of intellect and instinct. My inquiry regarding the rejection of my letter began a process of correspondence which was instructive for unearthing a philosophy of racism defined by ‘intent’ to be ‘racist’. This article presents a case study of editorial correspondence to argue the inverting of race and racism. Racial difference now marks equality not inequality. The author draws on critical race theory to claim that racial hierarchies embedded within celebratory discourses of inclusion, in response to journalistic defence of objectivity, mark the changing significance of race and racism.

Keywords:

• race
• racism
• media
• indigenous
• Australia

Acknowledgements

I wish to express my appreciation to the anonymous reviewer for the thoughtful and instructive comments and recommendations.

Notes

1. This article is derived from the research I presented at the Sport, Race and Ethnicity (SRE) Conference held at the University of Technology of Sydney, December 2008.

2. The term of reference considered appropriate to describe Aboriginal Australians is indigenous Australians though this does not preclude other identifications including Aboriginal or Aborigine.

3. I have elected to provide extracts only as it is not possible to include full transcripts of submissions, correspondence and articles without exceeding the word limit.

4. Lance Franklin has revealed his family calls him ‘Buddy’ to distinguish him from his father also named Lance.

5. Though reliable, this figure is an estimate because athletes may elect not to ‘self-identify’ as indigenous or Aboriginal.

6. There are 22 rounds of AFL matches per season in addition to four finals rounds culminating in the AFL grand final. This means, assuming that players are available to be selected (including being injury free, on form, and not ineligible due to suspension) that the period required to reach the milestone of 100 games equates with approximately five or more years of senior selection.

7. AFL player lists distinguish between senior players and rookies (not a senior player). A rookie may be elevated to the senior list from which selections are made if a senior player is injured for example.