Grant's speech on Aussie racism goes viral

A speech by indigenous journalist Stan Grant which describes the Australian dream as "rooted in racism" has been praised on social media.

Indigenous journalist Stan Grant (C) has been praised for a speech on racism that has gone viral. (AAP)

Indigenous journalist Stan Grant has been praised for challenging the Australian dream in a speech on racism that has gone viral.

"The Australian dream is rooted in racism," Mr Grant told the audience during a debate held by the Ethics Centre in Sydney in October.

"It is the very foundation of the dream. It is there at the birth of the nation. It is there in terra nullius."

Mr Grant made reference to lyrics in the national anthem - "Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free" - to highlight shocking statistics around indigenous disadvantage.

"My people die young in this country. We (indigenous Australians) die 10 years younger than average Australians," he said.

"We are far from free. An indigenous child is more likely to be locked up in prison than they are to finish school."

He also spoke of the nation's history of dispossession and "war of extermination" against indigenous people.

The speech had been viewed more than 700,000 times on Facebook by Sunday afternoon after being posted on the Ethics Centre's page on Thursday.

It has more than 11,500 "likes" and has been shared 25,000 times.

Media commentator and author Mike Carlton tweeted: "I think this Stan Grant speech will one day be viewed as a Martin Luther King moment."

ABC journalist Fran Kelly said on Twitter: "This speech is magnificent ... and shaming. Congratulations Stan Grant for telling us with such passion & clarity."