This past week has challenged the nation and shone a blinding mirror into the eyes of racism, police brutality and oppression. In light of this, I’ve been diving into a dark pool of footage, information, notes and data. With every increasing statistic, every testimony told, every video shared, I find myself submerging deeper and deeper, suffocating in my own futility. We are living in a bruised world and I sit back watching as another punch is served.
In the early days observing its defeat, I subtly expressed my personal anguish, spurring rage onto white supremacists and unhinged cops, driving my ego with the fuel of knowing that I am better than them. One of the harder lessons I’ve had to swallow these most recent days has been that although I may be better than them, I am not good enough and I can do better.
I’ve often prided myself on my neutrality; my inability to see beyond colour, religion, sexuality, wealth, education or anything in between. I merely didn’t care about how others lived their life and I encouraged the notion to let others just be. I believed that if you were able to positively reinforce those around you to be a better person and raise your own children to be kind, understanding and neutral then that would ultimately create a chain of righteousness. But we don’t have time for eventuality. This pressing urge for immediate change has shown me that my silence, my non-participance and my lack of education is an ally with the freedom of unjust expression. I have felt more uncomfortable these past few days than I have in my entire life, and I can painfully admit it’s because I have built up the strength to point the finger at myself. It is easier to digest the flaws of others and accuse them for being too complicit, too opinionated, too extreme or too involved. But one thing we must realise is that pouring blame onto others to justify our own rectitude is one of racism’s most subtle characteristics. We need to work from the inside out. We need to blame ourselves first and protest our own ignorance. I encourage you to go beyond your moral virtue and challenge it - admitting that you may be wrong gives you the opportunity to be better than you already are. Now is the time to think critically.
“Intelligence plus character – Now that is the goal of true education” - Martin Luther King
One of the more forgiving sentiments I have learned lately is that there are many, many others who are also experiencing guilt, shame and regret as repercussions of their new found knowledge. I want to encourage you that it is okay. It is okay to learn as you go and make mistakes along the way. It is okay that it took you a while to get here. Although, it is important that we sustain this momentum and enforce ourselves to keep learning and contribute to change.
For my fellow Australians, if like myself, the recent events have illuminated the flaws of our own country regarding the BLM movement, then I encourage you to join me in taking our first steps towards progress. The disparity between Indigenous Australians and other members of society go far beyond police brutality and judicial prejudice. Systemic racism is evident within Indigenous communities through association with Australian sovereignty, the education system, employment opportunities and social disadvantages including language, economic expression, substance addiction and mental illness.
In a recent survey from 2018, only 46% of Indigenous people believed they have high trust towards Australians in the general community, with a diminishing 27% of Australians who reiterated the same attitude towards Indigenous people. In addition, when 86% of Indigenous people agreed they were proud to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI), only 62% of Australians in the general community agreed they were proud of ATSI cultures. Trust and pride are both social constructs that can be amended on a personal and independent level, beginning with our own behaviour. The population of Indigenous Australians continue to grow and is expected to reach 1 million by the year 2030, so it is crucial that we use our privileges immediately to ensure that impending generations are granted the same opportunities we have been given.
While we remain isolated from the rest of the world, utilise your 'free time' to help. Educate yourself and watch documentaries; if this is your supposed “gap year”, you can assign yourself to non-profit organisations and research ways to volunteer; those of you who indulge in creating, whether it may be music, poetry, artwork, food, acting, etc… apply your talents to produce work that celebrates Indigenous Australian culture.
Admittedly, I was hesitant to post this with the fear of receiving backlash and accusations of hypocrisy. Although I was always against racism and societal oppression, I was never actively doing my part to steer others away from it. I was afraid of offending others and I unknowingly reserved my privileges for myself for when I needed it most; but the world needs it most now. I understand and apologise. I thank those who have advocated change and applied themselves to the movement before the George Floyd incident and hope I can exercise the same courage and awareness moving forward from here.
Image: Aretha Brown @_enterthedragon_
I have conjured a list of ways you can educate yourselves and support the indigenous community:
DO YOUR PART!
EDUCATE
o Informative Sites
o Historical Learning https://www.aboriginalheritage.org/history/history/
o How to create engaging relationships with indigenous Australians https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/7d54eac8-4c95-4de1-91bb-0d6b1cf348e2/ctgc-ip05.pdf.aspx?inline=true .
PETITION
o Change the licensing agreement around the Aboriginal Flag
o Prevent another aboriginal death in custody
o Fly the aboriginal flag above Sydney Harbour Bridge permanently
o Australians put the Indigenous community in control of land management
o Stop Aboriginal deaths in police cell custody by saving the custody notification service
o Include Aboriginal culture as a subject in schools
DONATE
o The National Justice Project is a civil rights organisation dedicated to tackling systemic injustice and racism within government institutions. It provides a targeted health-law service for First Nations peoples and communities who have experienced discrimination in healthcare or medical negligence, and has also campaigned against the unlawful treatment of refugees in Australia's offshore detention camps. http://justice.org.au/donate/
o The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families. https://healingfoundation.org.au/donate/
o The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia. https://hrlc.secure.force.com/
o ANTaR: (Australian for Native Title and Recognition) has continuously worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders on rights and reconciliation issues. ANTaR is an independent, national network of organisations and individuals working in support of justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia
o Change the Record is Australia's only national Aboriginal-led justice coalition of Aboriginal peak bodies and non-Indigenous allies. They're working to end the incarceration of, and family violence against, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
o Sisters Inside provides comprehensive, holistic support for women and girls from marginalised communities who have been imprisoned and criminalised. They also campaign to address the factors that have led to the drastic overrepresentation of First Nations women in Australia's prisons.
VOLUNTEER
o Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students (AIATSIS) contributes to the work of a world-renowned research, collecting and publishing organisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, languages and stories.
o Aboriginal Benefits Foundation Trust focuses on supporting health and education projects with a connection to Aboriginal art/artists https://aboriginal.org.au
o Aboriginal Legal Service offers law students the opportunity to volunteer with their Care and Protection of Family Law Practice https://www.alsnswact.org.au/volunteer
o Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) offers tutor volunteering to boost year 10, year 12 and university admission rates for Aboriginal students https://www.aimementoring.com
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
MEDIA
o First Nations Media – The national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media industry Find https://firstnationsmedia.org.au
o Ascension Mag – Australia’s first lifestyle platform for women of colour Find https://ascensionmag.com // Follow @ascensionmag
o Beyond Empathy – A platform for creating and sharing art to driving change Find https://be.org.au // Follow @beyondempathy
o Tiddas 4 Tiddas – An initiative celebrating indigenous female excellence Follow @tiddas4tiddas
o Blak Business – An informative local service giving you access to ways you can help the ATSI community Find https://linktr.ee/BlakBusiness // Follow @blakbusiness
ART
o Dylan Mooney- https://www.instagram.com/dylanmooney__/
o Molly Hunt - https://www.instagram.com/mollyhunt4food/
o Rubii - https://www.instagram.com/lifeofrubii/
o Charlotte Allingham - https://www.instagram.com/coffinbirth/
o Aretha Brown - https://www.instagram.com/_enterthedragon_/
o Emma Hollingsworth - https://www.instagram.com/mulganai/
o Lakkari Pitt - https://www.instagram.com/lakkariart/
FASHION
o Minaku Store - https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/Minakustore
o Deadly Denim - https://www.instagram.com/deadly_denim_/
o Clothing the Gap - https://linktr.ee/clothingthegap
o Bwtribal - https://bwtribal.com
o Life Apparel - https://lifeapparel.co/pages/indigenous-artists
MUSIC
o CAKEFIGHT - https://www.instagram.com/cakefightcakefight/
o Pataphysics - https://www.instagram.com/pataphysics/
o River Boy - https://www.instagram.com/riverboyofficial/
o Brent Watkins - https://www.instagram.com/culture_evolves/
o BUMPY - https://www.instagram.com/bumpymusic_/
o Kee’ahn - https://www.instagram.com/kee.ahn/
o DRMNGNOW - https://www.instagram.com/drmngnow/