Michael Hing reckons he may be Australia’s third or fourth favourite Asian-Australian comedian.
And even though his family migrated from China more than 100 years ago, he still gets asked – ‘Where are you really from?’ – all the time.
Michael’s experience is pretty common. No matter how long your family might have been here, if you look a bit different, chances are you’ll get asked that question every other week. This is particularly awkward if you live in a regional area and your family have been there for generations.
The thing is: many of Australia’s regional towns and centres were founded by migrant communities. Like the Chinese miners who arrived in Bendigo, Victoria, in the 1860s.
Or the Sikh farmers who settled on the New South Wales coast before Federation and became banana and now blueberry barons.
Country Australia has a long migrant history – but it’s one that most Australians don’t know. This new SBS series, Where Are You Really From?, celebrates that history and looks at how generations of migrants have made their homes here while having to confront sometimes negative stereotypes.
Playful and passionate, the series also delves into serious issues like racism and integration – while delivering a few laughs along the way. From country Victoria to regional Queensland, host Hing speaks to Chinese, Sikh and South Sudanese migrants, to hear the struggles they’ve faced, their hopes for the next generation and how they answer that big question.
Where Are You Really From? premieres Friday 8 June 7.30pm AEST on SBS. Watch it anywhere, any time on SBS On Demand.
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