black lives don't matter (but they should)

You don’t have to have black skin to be outraged by the white supremacy that controls our world.

As a proud palawa woman, it terrifies me to see the hate and racism that our world continues to be fuelled by, even in the 21st century.

Watching the current events unfold in America has brought to light the continuing racism that exists within our world today - though many may think that we have made strides regarding equality and racism, the truth is it never went away and is just as bad as it has always been.

Racism in the past has been obvious, loud, proud and overt - people did not attempt to hide it and would openly declare their hate for those with darker skin.

Aboriginal children were stolen from their families; the Black population of South Africa was segregated during Apartheid only 30 years ago; and America had “Whites only” businesses even in the 1940s.

Now, this racism still exists, but it is subtle - covert.

It exists in the stereotypes, the assumptions that we make and in the biases we hold. No one is immune to this, and if you think you are, I can guarantee you that you are part of the problem.

I come from a place of privilege; I have white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes, and the disadvantage that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience every day is something that I have never been disadvantaged by myself, no matter how I identify.

Nevertheless, I am furious to see the way my community is treated and the ignorance of Australia’s political figures as they pretend to care about Indigenous people all over the world - quite simply, their actions are not, and never have been, enough.

We are currently witnessing the Black American community finally starting to fight back - while many are saying that they are being unnecessarily violent, I completely disagree.

For decades, they have sat quietly and hoped for change.

They have knelt during national anthems, and respectfully objected to the racism they are subjected to - but quite frankly, that hasn’t worked. While I wish it hadn’t come to this, I think that the fury would explode out of me, too, if I had been silenced for decades.

I’m sure that you are shocked and appalled by the police brutality that you have heard about in America - the murders of Trayvon Martin, who was just walking home when he was shot by George Zinneman, who was found not guilty;

of Aiyana Jones, who was sleeping when shot by a police officer who was cleared of all charges;

and most recently, of George Floyd, an unarmed, detained man who screamed that he couldn’t breathe and yelled for his mother as a police officer suffocated and murdered him in front of countless witnesses who did NOTHING to help.

These deaths should infuriate you - but it is not just America that these murders are occurring.

Australia is just as bad, if not worse.

Since the end of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths Custody in 1991, more than 400 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people have died in police custody. And to make the numbers worse, there have been zero convictions. Despite being a minority in Australia, representing just 3% of Australia’s population, our Indigenous people make up 28% of our total prison population.

The reality is that Aboriginal people are dying earlier and more often.

They are more likely die during child birth,

during in custody,

due to intentional self-harm,

due to ischaemic heart disease.

And for some reason, they are consistently blamed for not conforming to the ways of white people.

This racism is persistent, it is worsening, and it is scary.

I should not be at an advantage over my community because I have less pigment in my skin - but sadly, I will never experience the racism that others of my culture will.

In the past few years as I have begun to reconnect with my Aboriginal identity, I have struggled with the feeling that I do not belong in the community. My entire life I have felt as though something within me was missing, and that I didn’t fit in, but beginning to learn about who I am and the blood that runs within me has allowed me to understand myself in a way I never have before.

The misunderstanding and covert racism within the Tasmanian community continues to astound me -

I have been asked “You’re not a real Aboriginal though, are you?” and have watched as white Australians have attempted to teach me what it means to be Aboriginal, as if understanding this is as easy as doing some Quantitative research and volunteering in Darwin for few weeks at a time.

Being Aboriginal is so much more complex than the facts and figures that are reported -

we are not just a statistic, a disadvantaged population that needs the pity of privileged white people and the money of apathetic governments.

We need help.

We need those of you who are white and privileged to use your privilege to speak up and make a difference. You cannot be defensive and ashamed to acknowledge this. The most powerful thing you can do is say something.

If you don't know what to say, I'll say it for you:

"I cannot change what has happened to you - but I am so sorry that you have suffered and continue to suffer. Know that I am a witness to your story, and that I will listen and share your story with the world so that less people suffer as you have."

We are not blaming you.

We are desperate for your help.

By acknowledging the wrongdoings of white people in the past, you are listening to our Indigenous people and through this, will allow healing and change to occur going forward.

Nothing is going to change within our world if we do not change our own behaviour and our way of thinking.

We need to begin to address our unconscious biases and speak up for those whose voices have been drowned out by the rich and powerful. For centuries, injustice has been prevalent not just within America, but within the entire world, and in order to make the world a better place we need to apologise and begin to rebuild a better, more generous and compassionate society.

We have so much to learn from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - if we would just listen to them.

I believe that we can change the world.

Prove me right.

kani soon,

Monty xx