The Harmony Week Pop-up stall went well. Our volunteers, Marcella and Andrew handed out over 50 orange Gerberas to passers-by and share with them the significance of ‘Harmony Day’.
Harmony Day is significant for Community Flower Studio. Every year, CFS hosts Harmony Day Events to celebrate ‘Living In Harmony’ and raises awareness of the original goal of the United Nations to ‘eliminate racial discrimination’. These events (pop-up stall, laughter yoga, floral arrangement workshop, bushwalk) offer an opportunity for meaningful interactions between Australians from diverse backgrounds (see photos). Their exchanges go beyond greetings in an ethnic language or enjoying some ethnic cuisines. Discrimination in any form is detrimental to our mental health. You may work extremely hard to change your accent, but you can’t change the colour of your skin. Racial discrimination needs to be called out, as Indigenous AFL Champion Eddie Betts did on 29 March.
Read the reflections by Rabia K (CFS Vice-President) on Harmony Day.
Today, March 21st, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
— a day recognised globally to confront and combat racism in all its forms
— a day where 69 peaceful protesters were killed in 1960, in Sharpeville, South Africa
— a day to reflect on the atrocities committed in the name of racial discrimination
However, in Australia, this significant occasion is celebrated under a different guise: Harmony Day. While Harmony Day ostensibly promotes unity and diversity, its surface-level celebrations often mask deeper systemic issues and fail to confront the harsh realities of racism and discrimination.
Australia’s decision to rebrand this international observance as Harmony Day reflects a tendency to prioritise surface-level harmony over the urgent need to address systemic racism. By reducing discussions of racial inequality to feel-good celebrations of diversity, we risk trivialising the experiences of those who face discrimination on a daily basis.
One of the most concerning aspects of Harmony Day is its propensity for tokenism and superficiality. The day often features multicultural festivals or morning teas where participants showcase their cultural heritage through food, music, and “traditional attire”. While these activities may foster a sense of inclusivity, they can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reduce diverse cultural identities to mere tokens.
The emphasis on harmony & unity can sometimes suppress meaningful discussions about the complexities of identity, privilege, and power dynamics. By prioritising surface level harmony over critical engagement, Harmony Day runs the risk of silencing dissent and reinforcing the status quo.
Genuine harmony requires confronting discomfort and acknowledging the existence of dissonance within our communities. However, Harmony Day often promotes a sanitised version of diversity that glosses over uncomfortable truths and reinforces a myth of effortless unity.
By shying away from difficult conversations about race, ethnicity, religion, and other forms of identity, Harmony Day perpetuates a false sense of harmony that prioritises comfort over justice. The avoidance of uncomfortable discussions not only fails to address the underlying issues but also perpetuates a cycle of ignorance and complacency.
True harmony necessitates engaging with the complexities of our differences rather than simply celebrating them in isolation. It requires confronting the uncomfortable truths of systemic racism, discrimination, and inequality head-on, and actively working towards dismantling these barriers to achieve genuine inclusivity and equality for all.
Without meaningful dialogue and action, Harmony Day risks becoming little more than a superficial gesture, masking deeper societal issues and hindering progress towards a more just and equitable society.
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