new
internationalist 145
March 1985
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Measuring the gulf
Racism affects every area of black people's lives.
The effects of racism can be seen in the gulf between
the black and white experience or work, housing, health
and education - among our most basic needs.
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Black people are more likely to be unemployed. |
Percentage of each group unemployed:
|
AUSTRALIA
| White |
7.6% |
| Aboriginal |
24.6% |
| Vietnamese |
26.9% |
| Lebanese |
31.9% |
|
CANADA
| National ave. |
13.6% |
| Native peoples |
50-75% |
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UNITED KINGDOM
|
Men
|
Women
|
| White |
13%
|
10%
|
| Afro-Caribbean |
25%
|
16%
|
| Indian
sub-continent |
20%
|
20%
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White people are more likely to have professional or managerial jobs
Percentage of each group in professional jobs:
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AUSTRALIA
White 14.2%
Aboriginal 7%
Vietnamese 5.9%
Lebanese 2.4%
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NEW ZEALAND
Maoris 4.6%
Others 17.2%
|
UNITED KINGDOM
White 19%
Indian sub-continent 13%
Afro-Caribbean 5%
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Black people are more likely to
face bad housing conditions. |
 AUSTRALIA
Proportion living in improvised shelter:
Aboriginals 9%
National average 0.2%
A Queensland survey of aboriginal housing showed:
Totally unacceptable 63%
Unacceptable but needing repair 34%
On a par with normal white standards 3%
CANADA
Proportion with sewerage and running water:
Native 50%
National average 96%
Native population of Montreal (1976):
Resident 250
Transient 6,500
UNITED KINGDOM
Percentage of each group allocated council housing by type of accommodation:
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FLATS
|
HOUSES
|
CROWDING
|
| White |
27%
|
39%
|
5%
|
| Afro-Caribbean |
54%
|
9%
|
20%
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Indian sub-cont. |
54%
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11%
|
43%
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Percentage of each group in pre-1919 housing:
| White |
26.6%
|
| Afro-Caribbean |
46.8%
|
| Indian.sub-cont. |
61.7%
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Black people are less likely
to receive a full education. |
 AUSTRALIA
Percentage receiving no schooling:
Aboriginals 11.7%
Others 0.08%
(80% of aboriginals have no educational qualifications)
CANADA
80% of native indian children do not complete high school.
NEW ZEALAND
Whites are twice as likely as Maoris to complete
secondary school and six times more likely to enter university.
UNITED KINGDOM
There are only 800 black teachers nationwide
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White people live longer. |
 Life expectancy at birth
AUSTRALIA
Aboriginals 53 years
National average 73 years
CANADA
Native Indians 66 years
National average 75 years
The suicide rate of Canadian native indians is 2 1/2 times the
national average
USA
Whites live an average of 4.6 years longer than blacks, hispanics and native Americans.
Black babies are more likely to die.
Infant mortality per 1000 live births
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Black people earn less money. |
 AUSTRALIA
Average annual family income:
Aboriginals $ 6,626
Others $12,026
CANADA
Native indian men earn: 60.2% of male average wage.
Native indian women earn: 71.7% of female average wage.
Indo-Chinese people earn 2/3 of national average.
USA
Average family income $19,661
Puerto Rican family income $9,855
UNITED KINGDOM
Average weekly eamings:
White £129
Indian sub-continent £111
Afro-Caribbean £109
Black people are more than twice as likely to be below the poverty line.
SOURCES
WORK: AUS. Bureau of Statistics, Dept. of Aboriginal Affairs;
CAN.Ministry of Indian & Northern Affairs 1980; NZ. 1981 Census; UK. Policy
Studies Institute.
HOUSING: AUS. Bureau of Statistics; CAN. Faderal Dept. of Indian Affairs 7980, Council
on Social Development 1976; UK. Policy Studies Institute.
HEALTH: AUS.Bureau of Statistics; CAN. Ministry of Indian & Northern Affairs,
UNICEF, Statistics Canada; USA. National Center for Health Statistics.
EDUCATION: AUS.Bureau of Statistics; CAN. Statistics Canada 1983; NZ. 1981
Census; UK Runnymede Trust.
INCOME: AUS. Bureau of Statistics; CAN. Abella Commission; UK. Policy Studies
Institute; USA. 1979 Census; Commission on Civil Rights.
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