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Black African Immigrants in Australia: (2005) Black African Immigrants in Australia: An exploratory analysis of the impacts of race and class on their lived experiences and adaptation processes. Ayalew MERGIA Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2005 Department of Political Science and Sociology The University of Melbourne Produced on acid-free paper Abstract The primary aim of the present study is to explore the impact of race and class on the lived experiences of Black Africans in Melbourne during their adaptation process as Black immigrants in the historical, socio-cultural, economic, and political context of Australia. Critical ethnography is the methodology for this study. Focussing directly on the everyday lives of Black African immigrants over a twenty-three months period during February 2003 to end of January 2005, the study reveals how racial factors articulate and intersect with class factors in the making and/or shaping of the lived experiences of Black Africans in Melbourne, Australia. The study uses a definition of race that focuses on the demarcation of `races' as socio-historical constructions embedded in power relations that enable the majority to define the identities of racially defined minorities, definitions that serve to reinforce and perpetuate the minority group's inferior social status. The mean age of the participants was 36.9 years (SD = 8.6). The participants were diverse in their manner of immigration, motivations for immigration, and household characteristics. Interviews, participant-observation, and paper-and-pencil tools (survey questionnaires) were the three methods used for data collection. Riesman's narrative analysis (1993) is the framework for analysing the interview data. Quantitative data provided descriptive information on demographic and immigration profiles, socio- economic and housing characteristics. The orientation of the quantitative component was to obtain a range of pictures of information or knowledge distributed within the population, and not to attempt any generalisation from the participants to the entire population of such immigrants. Findings from the traditional analysis indicated that participants faced immediate issues of survival after they arrived in Melbourne. Findings from the critical analysis revealed that immigration policy, class, imperialism and capitalism are not abstract or concealed issues but rather very real ones that have a direct bearing on these immigrants' experiences and their capacities to adapt. Findings from the critical analysis reveal that Black African immigrants received mistreatment from both white ii Australians (the dominant group) and non-English speaking Europeans (formerly oppressed groups). This study extends our understanding of immigrants' lived experiences; at the same time, it raises more questions for further investigation. In addition to the substantive contribution, this study also draws attention to several methodological issues pertinent to bilingual immigrant studies. iii Declaration (i) the thesis comprises only my original work towards the PhD, (ii) due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, (iii) the thesis is less than 100,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, figures, maps, bibliographies and appendices. iv Acknowledgments During my career as a doctoral candidate at the University of Melbourne, I was fortunate to have met several academics and non-academics, each of whom has made unique and extraordinary contributions to my studies and the ultimate formulation of this thesis. Expressing one's indebtedness in a venture of this sort defies quick and easy resolution. I therefore do not only want to thank those who have assisted me in the research and writing of this thesis but to let them know that I am truly grateful. Space limitations do not permit me to mention all of you individually, however, it would be inexcusable not to mention those persons to whom I am especially indebted for their supports in various ways. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Professor Ruth Fintcher, Professor Michael Webber, Professor Marcia Langton, Professor Verity Busman, Professor Mark Considine, Professor Malcolm Smith, Associate Professor Susan Mannon, Dr. Timothy Marjoribanks, Dr. Karen Farquharson and Dr. Nicole Asquith for carrying out a strenuous task of not only helping me academically but also assisting me overcome my fears and worries in many times that I had felt down. First, I wish to extend my sincere and heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my primary supervisor, Professor Verity Burgmann, for the unique role she played in the accomplishment of this thesis. Her guidance, invaluable suggestions, advice, support, and constructive criticisms combined with her personal interest and concern to propel the study to a successful end by hiring from her grant an assistant supervisor to help in the editing of my work. She once again took time out of her busy schedule as Deputy Dean to the Faculty of Arts in addition to her role as a professor to the Department of political science and devoted countless hours at the closing stage of the thesis to reading, reorganising and editing my work. Once again, her comments and suggestions at the final stage of the thesis were invaluable. Verity was above and beyond the call of duty as dissertation primary supervisor and her efforts are well acknowledged and appreciated. I owe a debt of gratitude to her for remaining friendly and cheerful while keeping me motivated to make certain that I produced a good thesis at the same time. I wish to express deep appreciation and gratitude to Professor Ruth Fintcher (Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning) and Professor Marcia Langton v (Professor of Australian Indigenous Studies) for giving me the opportunity to write the story that I felt needed to be told. I am indebted to them for their profound contribution to my understanding of the contemporary world. In particular, what I have been able to do in this thesis the questions that I have posed, and the manner in which I have sought to explore them — would never have been possible had it not been for the enduring influence of Professor Ruth Fincher and Professor Marcia Langton. I wish to express appreciation for Susan Mannon for her willingness to serve as my external supervisor while I was away from Australia. Susan was preparing for field work in Costa Rica coinciding with the start of a major research project of hers at her University and has a great deal to take care of before she leave for Costa Rica, yet she took time out of this busy schedule to read my thesis. I owe a debt of gratitude to her for the countless hours she devoted to commenting, reorganising and editing my work. All the works she did was all well beyond the call of duty. My thinking has been deeply inspired by her incisive wit and iconoclastic wisdom, which has only surpassed by her singular kindness. I also would like to express my deepest appreciation to Professor Mark Considine, associate supervisor, Dr. Timothy Marjoribanks, and Dr. Nicole Asquith, Department of Political Science, Melbourne University. I am grateful to Mark and Tim for not only reading my thesis with thoroughness and made numerous constructive suggestions but also for giving me the benefit of their precious time and experience to guide this novice scholar through the process of writing a thesis and inspired me to persevere as well. They gave me decisive support at critical junctures, for which I am profoundly grateful. Their generosity and their thoughtful discussions with me about my work were always helpful and broadened my understanding of what I was doing. I also wish to acknowledge the particular support and contribution of Nicole, for helping me across the finish line. I am indebted to her for the countless hours she devoted to proofreading my thesis and make certain that it was written with correct grammar and in good style, Her constructive suggestions and comments were profoundly helpful. A distinct expression of gratitude and thankfulness is due to Susan Venal! and Dr. Shigeko Narayama, cherished friends, colleagues and staunch supporters who struggled mightly to aid, assist, cajole, inspire and otherwise push me to press onward vi towards the higher mark of this achievement. Sue and Shigeko had always kept the faith, stuck with me and never relented in their determination that I should become Dr. Ayalew Mergia. Without their generous material and moral support all my efforts to accomplish this thesis would have remained in futile. Both Sue and Shigeko have been. a vital interlocutor throughout the history of this project, and has played a crucial role in the completion of this thesis. I owe a special debt of gratitude and appreciation to Sue for her unstinting help and unwavering friendship, support and assistance throughout the last two and half decades; stuck with me both in the good years and the bad years; for her generosity, kindness and understanding over the many years we have known each other; and through which, time, space and circumstances have never changed her attitude, respect and friendship. I want to register my gratitude to the Department of political science for assisting me a research grant and for providing me with computer for use at home. I wish to thank all the academic and support staff of the Department of political science, for their patience with my constant requests for help, especially to Mrs. Rita De Amicis, Manager. I am very much grateful to Mr Darren Smith, Web Developer and IT Officer, whose computer wizardry, with his patience, tolerance, and understanding nature made the completion of this dissertation possible. He was always there when I was confronted with technical problems, and whenever I needed him for help, for which I am grateful. I also wish to acknowledge the Statistics Consulting Centre of the University of Melbourne. The statistical analysis in Chapter 4 and else where in this thesis owes much to Dr.
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