Proud Aussie here. My parents arrived as refugees from Ukraine 50 years ago. Even though they were fair and white, the suspicion of "anglo" Aussies towards anyone foreign manifested in degrading ways, as if they were bringing in diseases and threats to their livelihood. My sister was very sick and ignored medical care. She died of pneumonia at 13 months within two weeks of arrival. That was my young parents' introduction to the Australian 1950's psyche.

I loathe racism. I've seen the pain it causes. But now the migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and their families almost outnumber the traditional "anglo" (British) Aussie. Combined with the irreverent Aussie humour and spirit, there is no better place to live in the world.

Most of us were blissfully ignorant of the concept of "blackface" and what it means to African Americans. I wasn't aware of its slavery connection. I don't believe Aussies see black people as buffoons, yet if someone/a part of the global community was hurt, then we need to sincerely apologise and learn from it. Far from buffoons, African Americans have a perception here of being so goddamned hip and cool ... and our local black community is primarily from Somalia and Ethiopia to build a new life. Aussies love people who battle to overcome obstacles.

Another thing you must be aware of, is that Australia is a CLASSLESS SOCIETY. We do not have the obvious class distinctions you have. There are no hangups here about your standing in society. It is not part of the Australian psyche to think you are better than anyone else. Minor example: Aussies won't sit in the back of a taxi cab, by doing so would be an act of belittling the status of the driver. We sit in the front :)

There is a payoff for all this understanding from we love-a-laugh Australians:
Can we ask we NOT be referred to as (cringe) convicts/criminals, kangaroos and Fosters-loving Crocodile Dundees. Americans - you have no idea how ignorant that makes YOU sound! They are redundant, irrelevant symbols to the everyday lives of Australians. Thomas Kenneally (Aussie author of "Schindler's List"), wrote in his other novel "Jacko" that TV in America is the "Eye of God". You don't know anything or believe anything unless you see it on TV. This may harm our image to those Americans who do not see outside that box. Lift your game - your image could do with a makeover too.