The Teeth Are Smiling: The Persistence of Racism in Multicultural Australia

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Australian treatment of Aboriginal people and immigrants was unashamedly racist. We have come a long way since then. Overtly racist laws and policies have been abolished and replaced with inclusionary multicultural policies. Most Australians now see themselves as willing to give everyone a fair go, whatever their colour, culture or origins.
But has multiculturalism really eliminated racism? Or does it persist in more subtle forms? The Teeth Are Smiling argues that official anti-racism is often only superficial and masks the continuing reality of racism in the labour market, education, the media, policing and even in multicultural policies themselves.
The Teeth Are Smiling draws on recent international research to explain the persistence of racism, showing how slogans of tolerance and equality often reflect a move from biological to cultural ideologies of difference. Racism is also linked to globalisation and economic restructuring. With contributions from some of Australia's foremost analysts of intercultural relations, The teeth are smiling is essential reading for anyone interested in issues of social justice and equality.

Ellie Vasta is a senior lecturer and Stephen Castles is Professor, both in the Department of Sociology at the University of Wollongong.