Yesterday a certain ‘journalist’ wrote a certain post about ‘asking a question’ that has resulted in the ‘Amazon Bombing’ of certain like minded people.
A great lady I know made the comment:
“Whiteness will continue to pound Aboriginality from our children’s identity, esp. the more successful they become, the more they transgress” – Leesa Watego
After the last couple of years this statement is seriously ringing true. After thinking we have made so much progress, society takes a huge step back thanks to the availability of the internet to voice your opinion.
What do we do?
As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people how do we combat the racism that is still so prevalent in our society that it screams at us through computer screens, takes over our Twitter feeds and confronts us every day with non Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s issues with our identity?
But that is just it; it is their issue and not ours.
We as a group, as a mob, as a community know exactly who we are and where we’ve come from. We know what we’ve gone through, how hard it is to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in Australia and how hard it will be for our future generations as our dark skin fades.
We need to provide each other with more support than ever and come to each other’s rescue when needed. We need to buy the books, make the statements and share with people what our identity means to us.
We all have our own story when it comes to identity, not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
You have been shaped by your heritage and the people in your life to make you, you.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are just that, it may not make sense to non Indigenous people, but why should it? It doesn’t concern you, it concerns us.
You worry about your identity and we’ll worry about ours.
Anita, you are a wonderful Wiradjuri woman who is constantly bettering the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through your work. We will be forever grateful and we will forever support you.
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