In the Face of Diversity

The unity or uniformity of the 'Chinese Australian community' has been frequently referenced in many recent political, popular and even academic discussions. The oneness of the community is often described as latent and inevitable, if not already a fact. Yet many Chinese Australians have also aspirationally used collective terms to refer to themselves; there have been perennial calls to 'unite and advance' the community, or have it 'speak with one voice'. But has a united or unitary 'Chinese Australian community' ever actually existed? If so, would a united community be a means to an end or an end in itself? And where would this community sit in contemporary multicultural Australia?I Am, You Are, We Are attempts to answer to these questions; it is a history of more than a dozen Chinese Australian community organisations from across the country over five decades that draws on the English- and Chinese-language materials these organisations have produced over the years, as well as interviews with ten past and present leaders. Instead of a single community, the evidence demonstrates the existence of many diverse Chinese Australian communities. Consequently, the book advances two ideas: 'Chinese Australian unity' presents itself as a chimera that inhabits the social space shared by Chinese Australians and has only ever been momentarily or partially grasped by community organisations; Imagining the 'Chinese Australian community' has nonetheless produced real-world outcomes, the most prominent being a highly participatory style of Australian multiculturalism. These two ideas are woven through six moments in recent history that have been highly decisive for Chinese Australian communities.I Am, You Are, We Are conveys (Chinese) Australian history in clear and evocative prose, while remaining academically authoritative and socially conscious. The result is a work that dismantles the prevailing myth of a single Chinese bloc to rebuild an appreciation of multiculturalism in Australia along with specific contributions made by Chinese Australian communities.