Aboriginal Political Movement in Australia - 2511 Words

Question: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples have since colonization been politically active. Discuss drawing from readings and research about various forms of political engagement. Since the beginning of European colonization in 1788, Aboriginal people have experienced displacement, have been the targets of genocidal policies and practices, and have had families destroyed through the forcible removal of children. Decades of colonial exploitation and a prolonged systematic attempt to destroy Aboriginal people and culture have led to legislations and policies that are punitive and restrictive towards Aboriginal people. Such legislation reflects the dominant society’s perceptions of Aboriginal people and how they ought to be†¦show more content†¦Aboriginal people did not have access to amenities, such as cinemas, hotels, cafà ©s and swimming pools, and suffered prejudice and suspicion as well as verbal and sometimes physical abuse (**). In the town of Walgett they decided to picket the Walgett Returned Service League Club (RSL) as a protest against the treatment of Aboriginal people. The media covered the Walgett RSL protest. The central role of the film camera in this campaign demonstrated the growing sophistication of activists who recognized the need to show city dwellers what was happening in country towns. Also captured on tape was the vice-president of the RSL who said he would never allow an Aboriginal to become a member (Curthoys, 2011, 12). Such evidence was beamed into the living rooms of Australians with the evening news and exposed an endemic racism. This film footage shocked city viewers and added to the mounting pressure on the government. The legacy of the Freedom Ride political action was a greater awareness of Aboriginal issues in a rural context. Perkins and his fellow students had successfully stirred up debate and sparked discussion around Australia on the state of Aboriginal affairs. Awakening media interest in Aboriginal affairs was positioned in favor of the Black Australian cause, to the severe embarrassment of many white townspeople in rural New South Wales. In the ensuing public debate, urban public knowledge of racial discrimination grew, someShow MoreRelatedAboriginal Political Movement in Australia2518 Words   |  11 PagesQuestion: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples have since colonization been politically active. Discuss drawing from readings and research about various forms of political engagement. Since the beginning of European colonization in 1788, Aboriginal people have experienced displacement, have been the targets of genocidal policies and practices, and have had families destroyed through the forcible removal of children. Decades of colonial exploitation and a prolonged systematic attempt to destroyRead MoreThe Australian Aboriginal Rights Movement1201 Words   |  5 Pagesto protest for their rights. 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