Am I white enough for you?
Michael Dangalaba and son Gael
This is a guest post by Michael Dangalaba, who first posted this on his quite wonderful blog Clouds on a Distant Horizon.
This piece was written in response to comments by Country Liberal party candidate for the seat of Stuart at the Northern Territory general election, Bess Price during the SBS program “Aboriginal or Not?” broadcast on 7 August 2012.
Michael’s piece is largely in response to the following exchange – but he makes a number of points that i think are worth a broader audience.
“ANTON ENUS: Let’s get a comment from Bess Price.
BESS PRICE, CLP CANDIDATE FOR STUART NT: I just have one question, why don’t you acknowledge the other heritage that you have and be proud of it? And just not go one way?
TARRAN BETTERRIDGE: I agree.
BESS PRICE: I can stand up and say I’m a black fella and I’ve got one blood and that’s it. But my daughter, whose father is sitting next to me, she acknowledges the father and the other heritage that she has – she doesn’t just say she’s a black fella. That has to happen here in Australia so we can all be honest and equal with each other and understanding because it creates the division. It creates a division.
I didn’t know you were black fella as well because I’m sitting here and you totally look like a white fella to me. (emphasis added)”
Country Liberal candidate for Stuart Bess Price. Photo: ABC
When muppets like Bess Price ask us half-breeds why we don’t celebrate our non-Indigenous culture, she isn’t suggesting we acknowledge both.
She isn’t saying to us that we should revel in our diversity and share in the richness of our own individual multiculturalism.
To me she is simply saying “Fuck off, you’re not black enough for me. You’re not allowed in our club any more, go play with the white kids”.
The thing is, for me at least, I always have celebrated both. Very openly, very equally, very proudly.
So why, you might ask, as many have before you, do I feel it necessary to ‘identify’ as Aboriginal, and why, you might ask, as many have before you, do I feel it necessary to work so explicitly and so tirelessly and so publicly for ‘my people’, the Aboriginal people of Australia?
Well, try this on for size.
When a stranger looks me in the face, they don’t see the son of a hardworking bureaucrat, a single mother who gave 30 continuous years to the Commonwealth public sector, who raised two boys single handedly, and who lived in the same, cold, unadorned Canberra house for over 20 years.
When a stranger looks me in the face, they don’t see the grandson of a true English gentleman who sailed proudly for the Royal Navy in WWII, who settled in Australia afterwards and was the respected publican of the Cairns RSL until his untimely death.
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Categories: Australian politics, Fun stuff, Northern Territory politics, Some places I've been, Stupidity, The Law, The Northern Myth, The NT Intervention, Yuendumu
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I’m a white fella, not sure if that’s formed my opinion on them but I’ve had the feeling that for some time – to paraphrase Warumpi Band – Ms Brice and Mr Bolt are not true fellas.
by Pete on Aug 21, 2012 at 6:41 am
This comment is from Frank Baarda at Yuendumu who has asked me to post it for him:
“I watched bits of the SBS programme. I found some of it difficult to watch, which made me channel-switch away for much of it. What I found hard to watch and listen to was what Michael Dangalaba accurately describes as the “big, nasty, lateral violence fueled discourse” aspects of the show.
And right in the middle of it a lucid gem: an academic whose name I forgot pointed out the important distinction between ‘Identity’ and ‘heritage’
If you get a chance, look up Daniel Barenboim’s documentary ‘Multiple Identities’.
An Identity is to a significant extent defined by ‘the self’ and is something we don’t have a right to deny others, nor to force others to change, nor to make ‘big and nasty’ value judgments about.
Frank Baarda”
by Bob Gosford on Aug 21, 2012 at 9:06 am
Further to Frank’s comment about Daniel Barenboim’s documentary “Multiple Identities”, you can see more about that movie at the Goethe Institute here: http://www.goethe.de/ins/au/lp/prj/fia/flp/arc/fpm/en1646330.htm.
If you log in to the Naxos Video Library you can watch it here:http://www.naxosvideolibrary.com/title/2050427A/
You can read the great mans own words on the occasion of being awarded the prize for “Mutual Acceptance and Tolerance” at the Jewish Museum in Berlin here: http://www.danielbarenboim.com/index.php?id=37
by Bob Gosford on Aug 21, 2012 at 9:16 am
“When muppets”… and right there, you lost your own argument.
by John64 on Aug 21, 2012 at 10:52 am
If Ms Price is a muppet, then fine, explain why. To open with insults gives the distinct impression that you have a weak argument that you are trying to prop up. As for your question “So why, you might ask, as many have before you, do I feel it necessary to ‘identify’ as Aboriginal,” you never answered it.
No doubt that you do identify as both. And that is great, I wish there were more of you. But there are many who choose to totally identify as Aborignial (and when you look at some of them, that is a joke). Though they live totally like the whites. So why do they concoct this silly arbitrary, self-serving rule of “Ya either one or the other.” People can be both.
“Half-breeds like me, we’re still pawns in the middle of a big, nasty, lateral violence fueled discourse, led by self-interested types with ulterior motivations.” That is nonsense. Are we meant to feel sorry for you? Are you happy that you have had your rant? You are a pawn only if you want to be.
“To me she is simply saying “Fuck off, you’re not black enough for me. You’re not allowed in our club any more, go play with the white kids”.” Thems seems the words of an angry insecure man who is not sure of his identity.
Finally, judging by your photo, I think you are black enough. It was the silly ones on stage that Ms Bess was questioning.
by Johnson Mack on Aug 21, 2012 at 11:52 am
John64 – I’m not looking to to make an argument, I’m just telling my story, in my own words. If the casual way in which some people express themselves is a blockage to your own engagement, I suspect over time you’ll lose much more than I ever have.
Johnson Mack – You’re kind of reinforcing my point. I identify as Aboriginal because I have little choice – people see a brown man and expect answers. What is a joke is that you are still making judgments about the people who appeared on Insight based on their appearance – overall, the key point here is that it’s not your (or Bess Price’s) place to decide what other people are or are not, how they should or should not identify themselves.
What exactly is ‘living like whites’ anyway? For that matter, what would ‘living like Aborigines’ look like in 2012? Cultures evolve, but that doesn’t dilute our desire for self-determination.
I don’t expect anyone to ‘feel’ anything for me. Again, I’m just telling my story, as a counterpoint to some others that have been presented. Crikey have been kind enough to reprint it. I’m just a regular bloke, without the exposure and influence that the likes of Bess Price have. So my language is a bit loose and provocative. That’s who I am. I called Price a muppet, you just called another group of people silly. Whatever.
I’m quite secure in my identity these days, as I think my piece demonstrates pretty clearly. But it took a while to get there. Did you grow up as a brown child with a white single mother in a white suburban neighbourhood? Maybe, maybe not. You’ve prob’ly got your own story to tell and I’d love to hear it, but please don’t think that you can cross examine someone else’s lived experience without any real understanding of everything that comes behind it.
That my story has resonated so positively with so many is good enough for me.
by nomadiqueMC on Aug 21, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Michael: Just remain strong in your essential identity and don’t let anybody mess with that. Who cares what Bess Price or anybody else thinks – you know who you are, and you don’t have to prove anything, to anybody.
by cici on Aug 21, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Frank Baarda is quoted as saying: ‘An Identity is to a significant extent defined by ‘the self’ and is something we don’t have a right to deny others, nor to force others to change, nor to make ‘big and nasty’ value judgments about.’
To me this is self-evident at one level, but the problem is that Indigenous identity is used by government in granting entitlements to individuals and resources to groups of people, so there has to be some form of objective criteria that is generally acknowledged.
If you want positive discrimination by government on the basis of race or any other criteria you can’t rely on self-identification alone.
The angst over decision making processes around identity in some Aboriginal communities (on display during the TV program ‘Aboriginal or not’) suggests this is an issue not just for the Andrew Bolts of this world but for many Aboriginal people as well.
by marcfranc on Aug 21, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Fair enough comments, and sorry if I come across too tough/nasty. When I look at you I do see someone of Aboriginal heritage. And when people (whether it be me, Price, or Bolt) make comments about some people who claim they are Aboriginal because they ‘believe in their spirit’ that they are, why are we then accused of judging? It’s not really the colour of the skin that is the issue. But rather, colour of skin is often a good (though not perfect) indicator of one’s cultural mix. Why is it that if someone has many heritages (and most of us do, though Ms Price does not), and one of those heritages is Aboriginal, then you know what they are likely to identify with? It seems that the Aboriginal ancestry cancels out all the others. And to justify their choice (and most times it is a choice) they just simply claim “I was raised black fella way”. And if any questions that they accused of judging, or worse, being racist.
Yes do you seem like a regular bloke. With regard to Price, the term ‘muppet’ is usually used to imply that some one is easily manipulated. If Price (and I don’t know the lady) is being manipulated by the government or whoever, then provide some evidence.
I don’t assume to cross-examine anyone’s ‘lived experience’. It’s just that I and many other Australians are curious as to why so many people with Indigenous ancestry (often a very small part) forget the rest of the make up and select only one part of their ancestry. We should not be accused of cross-examining for have such curiosity.
Loose and provocative language is fine, that is not the point. While I am glad you shared your story, it was not convincing to me that you are secure with your identity. But you clearly are a black fella, so you should be.
You state “that it’s not your (or Bess Price’s) place to decide what other people are or are not, how they should or should not identify themselves” Are you sure about that? I am curious, does Ms Price have the right to identify as non-Indigenous if she wants to?
by Johnson Mack on Aug 21, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Oh dear, I’m a stranger to you and I don’t see anything…. because I rely more on what people do to judge them. Unfortunately that means I’m judging you on comments which appear weak and equally prejudicial. I don’t *make* you think anything – this is your choice how you identify. Eg, I could hear the same comments from someone with your exact heritage moaning about being judged because they’re gay, and it still doesn’t change my opinion of them. Why do you project your own issues onto a straight forward comment by Bess Price? Maybe people don’t like what you say, not what you look like?
To me, you could be of Middle Eastern, Spanish or South American blood, but then again, I’ve got off my backside and travelled the world, and met thousands of interesting people with stories to tell who enjoy and celebrate such mixed heritages or simply don’t have the luxury of knowing their own background in order to protect and enjoy their own diversity. I have best friends who just love being Iranian/American, Pakistani/British, Nigerian/German, who live and enjoy both cultures despite historical repressession. It seems like you’re ashamed of something you don’t need to be.
What your daddy or your uncle did? Who cares??? They are not you, and so you don’t earn halo respect or disrespect from anything they did. That goes for ALL sides of your parentage, by the way.
Frankly, with such statements in this piece, I’m afraid for the next generation of children – are they being indoctrinated with this anger? I’d much rather see that you use your obvious knowledge and skills for good statements and examples to come up with a new way of thinking which honours and uses ALL your heritage.
by shaz_uae on Aug 21, 2012 at 2:34 pm
You really do know how to sound both offensive and thick at one and the same time Johnson Mack.
by rachel612 on Aug 21, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I totally understand where Michael is coming from although I don’t agree with calling Bess Price names.
For generations the dominant culture has been identifying those of mixed races as not having pure white blood hence they are not white. You can find very fair skinned people who have Aboriginal blood considered as Ab.o or nigg* by white people.
An interesting occurrence in America is many of those fair skinned who have African heritage disappeared from the census as ‘black’ and become white people because it is much more advantageous for them to be white in such racist environment.
In Australia, many fair skinned people who have Aboriginal heritage consider themselves Aborigines because Aborigines are the first people so it is something to be proud of. This should be accepted because without your great great Aboriginal grandfather or grandmother you would not exist, it is just as simple as that.
I don’t have problem with criticism of people who’ve never known themselves to be Aboriginal and discover their heritage and find some financial benefit in claiming it so they choose to do so, as long as you are correct and back up with factual evidence. I certainly do not agree with B.o.lt.
by Apollo on Aug 21, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Johnson Mack – Your last question is an excellent one. The short answer I suppose is yes, if she chose to identify as non-indigenous, who am I to say otherwise? Could she? Probably not. Why would she? I have no idea.
My use of the word muppet was flippant, at best. It’s a word i use a lot. I don’t think Price is being manipulated. She is intelligent, articulate, passionate. Indeed, to suggest she is at someone else’s whim would just let her off the hook. I respect difference of opinion. That she and I have differing views on a great many things is neither here nor there – however her comments regarding ‘part-Aboriginal’ people spoke directly to me, so I felt compelled to respond.
shaz_uae – Your commentary contains a great many unfounded assumptions. Price’s comments were far from straight-forward – for many people, the issues of identity and self-determination are very complex. You say you rely on “what people do to judge them” but you’re judging me when you have no idea what I do, beyond typing up a single ‘blog post. I’ve travelled the world too, seen and learned a great deal. I’ve put my skills and knowledge to use in many practical ways over the last 20 years and can proudly say that I’ve been instrumental in changing lives and communities in a number of ways. Not just in Indigenous affairs, but across a wide spectrum of social policy areas.
I’m certainly not ashamed of myself, my heritage, my family or my achievements. What is disappointing tho’ is that despite all this, the likes of Bess Price and Andrew Bolt will still continue to judge me and my peers on nothing more than a superficial level – and whilst that won’t stop me from continuing to work hard to improve lives and communities, I also won’t stop speaking out against injustice as and where I see it.
by nomadiqueMC on Aug 21, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Are you Australian? All other sub-groups are an invention of modern media.
Can I just say that I’m sick of Politican’s using the “Welcome to Country Ceremony” as passing off some “care” for the indigenous troubles.
also, I was born here, and don’t need to be welcomed to the city I have lived in all my life.
thx
by gikku on Aug 21, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Good article Michael.
Must admit I was surprised and sadden with some of the discussion on the SBS program. Time seem to run out to clarify the topic so it is good to read and learn from your point of view.
by Mort on Aug 21, 2012 at 6:02 pm
If Calling Bess Price a muppet was “flippant” you could put some work into your communication technique. Surely you know how everyone was recently hyperventilating about some evil investment bankers who called their clients muppets.
by David Hand on Aug 21, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Anothery from Mr Frank at Yuendumu …
There is nothing new about using one’s ethnicity/identity etc to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves, nor of embracing an Identity because of perceived advantages.
The countless ‘New Australians’ that get naturalized at the first opportunity being a case in point, not to mention people that join a religious organisation not out of conviction but out of convenience.
What bugs me though is that somehow people that identify as Australian Aborigines have to justify themselves and are often assumed and accused to embrace their Aboriginality out of purely pecuniary interests.
Such an assumption is usually untrue, unfair and cruel, and it is this that got Andrew Bolt into trouble.
I find the assumption that people “take on” an Aboriginal Identity because of the bounty that awaits them rather ironic.
I live on a remote Aboriginal community and I can assure you that very little of the $1.5Billion spent on ‘Closing the Gap’ finds its way into Aboriginal hands.
As for the handful of scholarships and housing loans that are ‘granted’ urban Aborigines, they are hardly a reason to jump onto the mythical Aboriginal gravy train.
No. If people embrace an Aboriginal Identity they usually do so out of deeply felt personal reasons.
And what ethnocentric arrogance it is to deny them such.
FDB
by Bob Gosford on Aug 21, 2012 at 6:22 pm
My youngest is also a “half-breed”: half Anglo Australian, half Vietnamese Australian. She’s copped some quite nasty racism along the way (starting with an elderly woman coming up to me when I was holding my daughter as a three-week-old baby, and deliberately spitting in her face), but only from “white” people. Asian people have always accepted her warmly.
So I can certainly understand identifying with the cultural group which best accepts who you are.
by Clytie on Aug 21, 2012 at 6:24 pm
@nomadiqueMC, If Ms Price (who has no non-Indigenous ancestry) is allowed to identify as a non-Indigenous person, if she wanted to, then is it acceptable for a non-Aboriginal person (that is, someone with absolutely no Aboriginal ancestry) to identify as an Aboriginal person? They could always just say “I believe in my heart that I am Aboriginal” and they could also use the ultimate verbal weapon “Let Aboriginal people decide who is Aboriginal”. Can you see teh fault in that argument? Such circular reasoning seems a bit silly. And why do you insist that people like Bolt and others are ‘judging’ you simply because they, like many other Australians question the motives for why someone with a tiny amount of Aboriginal heritage wishes to identify as Aboriginal? And again, for the record, you do look Aboriginal; it’s the others with minimal ancestry that are the problem.
@Rachel612, when someone accuses others as “offensive and thick” without offering any evidence, then perhaps they are the ones who are “offensive and thick”?
by Johnson Mack on Aug 21, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Johnson Mack
Ms Price can call herself non-indigenous if she want to because no one cares but does not mean it is the truth. If you’ve read “My Place” you will know that in the old days when there was much stronger and wide spread racism many part-Aboriginal people hid their identity and pretended to be from other racial backgrounds.
Today there is strong movement to embrace Aboriginality because it is being the first original Australian and is something to be proud of, that is why many fair skinned Aboriginal identify themselves as Indigenous. It does not matter that only one’s great grand parent is Aborigine, without that person who is the first Australian the descendant would not be here or exists.
Furthermore, you seem to ignore the obvious entrenched culture in Australian society which consider mixed blood (whether someone is half caste or quater caste or 1/8th Aboriginal is still) people as B*ng or Nigg*r or in neutral respectful term as Aboriginal. Evonne Goolagong was called a “nigg*r” by her competitor. If B.ol.t is unaware of this he must be living in another country, it is more likely that he is being disingenous for being oblivious to this fact. I guess Ms Price don’t live the experience of part-Aboriginal people who experience racism against them just the same as someone who is full blooded Aborigine so she does not have good understanding of these identities.
Although, it is rather disappointing that some people don’t readily see part-Aboriginal people as Indigenous and demand proof of linkage when the person clearly has Aboriginal feature. But it is fair enough that when you claim certain identity or status of the first people it has to be true and you have to be able to provide evidence otherwise you could be part Papua or Maori for all we know. It’s like claiming Native Title, people have to prove linkage.
by Apollo on Aug 21, 2012 at 11:07 pm
You and others can call yourselves what you like, “but does not mean it is the truth.” And often if it was not for the other 7 non-Aboriginal great grandparents the person would not be here. So why are they only proud of one part of their ancestry? There is nothing wrong with being proud of one’s ancestry. As far as I know, I do not have any Aboriginal relatives. If I did, I would certainly acknowledge that. But I would not then build my identity around that one ancestry. And nobody is in denial of racism, past or present. It is perhaps best to keep these red herrings out of the conversation, unless you can explain their relevance. You state “Although, it is rather disappointing that some people don’t readily see part-Aboriginal people as Indigenous …” If they are part Aboriginal, and part something else, why do they stick with only one part? It is the part that pays dividends. You are off target, so best to quit now.
by Johnson Mack on Aug 22, 2012 at 9:03 am
Johnson Mack
You seem to have missed what Michael said in this article. He does acknowledge his white heritage and is proud of it.
I’ve explained to you that in the past having Aboriginal blood was something people felt ashamed of because of such severe racism. These day people want to be proud and do not want to hide their Aboriginal ancestry. And feeling proud of having Aboriginal ancestry as something special as they were the first people who discover and settle this land is not that unusual, it is similar to people who feel proud of having Irish heritage or Scots or any other.
You keep on insisting that they are part something else, yes they are also part something else no one denies it. But as I’ve explained before the part-Aboriginal or anything non-white is normally the first thing the people recognise and judge in a society where racism still exist. That’s the thing Michael does not deny the white part of his being but people will see him as a black man. Seriously mate, do people call Barack Obama or white man or a black man? Get with reality of how it is in society operates.
As I’ve said I don’t have problem with criticism of people who claim Aboriginality for some financial gain as long as there is factual evidence, and I’m sure there might be some people who do that to gain some benefit. But, Bo.lt failed, the judge found he provided false evidence, that is libel, defamation and it was insulting, intimidating, and humiliating to the people he targeted.
Note that identity is also different to heritage also. A white child who is adopted by an Indian or Aboriginal tribe and grow up his entire life in that society will identify him/herself as indigenous. Similarly many part Aboriginal people growing up having indigenous family and relative would take in that identity. Those who are adopted by white family have the black racial identity projected on them by society, those extremely white can pass as pure white people won’t have that identity projected on them and can loose any connection with Aboriginal identity.
by Apollo on Aug 22, 2012 at 9:57 am
I have lived with people of all races and cultures. I personally don’t care who identifies as what. You can call yourself martian if it makes you happy. What I do have a problem with is race based funding. To me, all funding should be based on need, not race or colour. Bob Gosford, your remote community would have a much higher level of funding if so much money wasn’t channelled into providing duplicate services for indigenous people in urban areas where they have equal access to all mainstream funding. Being indigenous does not automatically make you disadvantaged. I know indigenous people who earn well above the average income and who have access to all the services they need in mainstream, who are buying their own homes and sending their children to private schools. These people should not qualify for any extra funding or services. On the other hand, there are children living in abusive, dysfunctional homes in squalor because not enough money has been put into child protection services and parental education schemes. So, everyone be proud of all your heritage and give the helping hand to those in genuine need, not just want.
by Baniol Girl on Aug 22, 2012 at 10:42 am
Just a quick note to Baniol Girl – you appear to be referring to comment 17 above as if it was written by me – it was not.
Frank Baarda from Yuendumu wrote that comment – I just posted it for him.
In passsing I’d like to ask Baniol Girl where she lives now, and if she has ever been to Yuendumu – or any other remote communities?
by Bob Gosford on Aug 22, 2012 at 10:46 am
I agree, being proud of one’s ancestry is great. But that is different to then building your ethnic identity around that ancestry.
The ‘false evidence’ from Bolt (and I am not here to defend him) was unrelated to the general claim shared by many that many people with Aboriginal ancestry wish to milk it. The judge did not prove anything. It was simply one man’s opinion, an opinion that has been criticised lots. We now have a situation where anyone can say “You’ve hurt my feelings so you must be racist or guilty of something and I am totally innocent.” I agree that ‘factual errors’ should be prevented and dealt with. But many ‘factual errors’ are made in the media.
And I agree Michael has acknowledged his mixed ancestry. Further, you can clearly see he is of Aboriginal descent. It is the other ones who only have a trace of Aboriginal ancestry that I have a problem with.
by Johnson Mack on Aug 22, 2012 at 10:56 am
Bob. I live in the Kimberly. Thousands of indigenous people here are in employment, at all levels, including owning their own business. Many have mortgages and have new model cars. As I said, just being indigenous does not make you disadvantaged, it is factors like isolation and lack of work opportunities that create disadvantage.
by Baniol Girl on Aug 22, 2012 at 11:10 am
Johnson Mack
There might well be some people who claim Aboriginal ancestry to milk it. But that does not make it OK to assume all of them does it or to assume or generalise someone who is fair skinned only do it to gain benefit and deny them of the indigenous identity.
I’m speaking in the old days, the light skinned Aboriginal faced racism just as full blooded. These days, society has evolved where racism is not that widespread, only in pockets of society where these people will still be looked down as nigg*rs.
The thing is the people who B.o.lt named, grew up in the generation where racism against them was wide spread which enforced black identity on them, and they also have indigenous family and relatives to internalise that identity and connection. It is quite obvious that they would identify themselves as indigenous.
The court judgement is correct that it is rac ist because it was insulting, ridiculing and intimidating the people on the basis of colour and race. Just because they have light skin does not mean they should be denied of their identity and people can insult them as people who try to milk the system.
It is not being about being hurt or offended and I agree with David Marr to remove “offend” from the racial vilification legislation.
I do understand why you wonder why people who only have only little trace of Aboriginal blood claim heritage or identity, and I don’t dispute that there may be some who do it to gain benefit but that does not make it ok to generalise that all of them do it for that reason. As I tried to explain, how you grow up and internalise identity from your environment whether because of having family and relatives or living in the tribe or being projected on by society.
That’s the most I can try to explain to you, and you probably won’t agree with me but that’s ok, life will take its course. Have a good one.
by Apollo on Aug 22, 2012 at 11:43 am
I agree, generalisations should not be made. But when someone’s Aboriginal ancestry is minimal, then what are their possible motives for identifying as ‘Aboriginal’? As I said before (and many would agree that this is a self-evident truth), that ‘being proud of’ and ‘identifying as’ are two very different matters. I am pleased to hear you say “racism is not that widespread, only in pockets of society…” because there are so many others who believe that racism is everywhere and is holding Aboriginal people back. I seriously doubt if the ones B.o.lt mentioned copped as much racism as they would have you believe. And even if they did, that was then, this is now. No the judgement was not correct because it was “insulting, ridiculing and intimidating the people on the basis of colour and race”. That is opinion only, and a very convenient one. I agree it would be intimidating to have your ‘Aboriginality’ questioned for some of these people given the little Aboriginality they have. It seems the comment “I was raised Aboriginal’ is never allowed to be questioned. With regard to your claim “Just because they have light skin does not mean they should be denied of their identity” that is fine, and while I do not necessarily agree, I do not oppose it. But withhold the privileges, stop the gravy train, close down the Indigenous industry, stop the tokenism, and watch how many stop insisting that the rest of Australia have to see them as Aborigine. People can identify how they wish. But let’s not provide special services based on self-identification, even identification that may be backed by a certificate. Let’s focus on need.
by Johnson Mack on Aug 22, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Hello again friends. I must say I have enjoyed this discussion, thanks all for taking the time to read the piece (those of you who got past the first sentence, of course) and provide some comments. I’m not sure there’s much more I can add, but there’s just two brief points that popped into my head so I’ll leave you with these.
Let’s not assume that every ‘light-skinned Aborigine’ (for want of a better term) has ‘minimal’ Aboriginal ancestry. Genetics and what-not is a curious phenomenon, and light skin is by no means an indicator of 1/8th or 1/16th or 1/33rd or less ‘blood quantum, even if you were inclined to go down that murky path. I personally know people whose Aboriginal ancestry is as close enough to 50% as you’re likely to get who are as ‘light-skinned’ as myself, or Anita Heiss, or whoever. Some might consider it an anomaly, but it’s a reality.
The other point is this – the Insight program on SBS made a provocative and deliberately muddy link between Aboriginality and entitlement. Whilst I have views on this which I can already see differ greatly from some of the comments above, my piece was simply a reflection on Aboriginality and the right to self-identification and self-determination.
‘Entitlement’ vs need, and the so-called gravy train of the ‘Indigenous industry’ (whatever that is) is some next level business that I’m going to leave for another day.
My sincere thanks to you all for your engagement.
by nomadiqueMC on Aug 22, 2012 at 9:46 pm
How does the apology thing work for those with both indigenous and ‘invader’ ancestry. Never could work that out. Do you have to apologise to yourself?
by Patriot on Aug 23, 2012 at 10:10 am
I commend the politeness of the posters answering the narrow minded and ignorant commenters here. It seems to me that anyone who speaks like this has never known many aboriginal people. I live in a city where aboriginal people all look different from one another, even within one family. What a shock! Even Italians look different from each other! And some Greeks are blond! And how about the differences between those of mixed Anglo Celtic descent! Who would have thought people don’t fit ridiculous stereotypes! I think that ignorance of the entrenched racism towards aboriginal people throughout our history in Brisbane, combined with ignorance of how the aboriginal health services and schools are doing a good job helping their own communities to deal with their specific problems, or what’s commonly known as targeted approaches to problems, cannot be judged by people who are just pandering to their own prejudices. I am 52 and I am very tired of this same old drivel I’ve been hearing all my life. Can’t these people try to get some notion of evidence based arguments, not prejudice based arguments? What about attacking business owners for a change whose businesses make a loss on paper so their whole family gets lots of welfare payments while they are living a wealthy lifestyle? I suppose they are now battlers! I am not an aboriginal person but I love the Welcome to Country. It always makes me feel proud that we can follow an ancient ritual and I see it as common good manners.
by sottile6 on Aug 23, 2012 at 2:10 pm
As mentioned above, not every light-skinned Aboriginal person has less ‘Aboriginal’ blood than someone with darker skin. For example, I have a very noticeably darker complexion, but my sister, who has both the same mother and father as I do, is fairer than even most non-Aboriginal people. However, we both share the same ‘level of Aboriginality’ for lack of a better term. Who are people to say that she is not ‘Aboriginal enough’ just because she is fairer than I am?
Another point I’d like to make. How fair is it, that because of circumstances beyond a person’s control, they have only recently found out about their Aboriginal heritage and choose to identify as Aboriginal, should be made to feel like they’re taking advantage of something? It is well-documented and common knowledge that Aboriginal people were taken from their families, Aboriginal populations massacred and moved to missions, so not only have these people lost all of that time and connection to their family, land and culture, but now that they’ve found it, they are denied the ability to enjoy it just because they didn’t know about it until now? What is wrong with the world?
One final point I would like to make, is that just because someone of Aboriginal heritage lives in an urban area, does not necessarily mean that their need for services is less than those in remote communities. I understand the need to make sure that those that need the services get them, but unless the people judging know the person’s circumstances, you don’t know if they NEED the services. Remember, these services are not some hand out or something more than the average Australian would get, these services are designed to attempt to give disadvantaged people opportunities that others take for granted. I think a lot of people tend to forget that.
by Jami on Sep 1, 2012 at 2:57 am