Media & Historical Analysis

Redfern riot – between indigenous youth and police on 15th February 2004

Redfern – Strong and bold indigenous community and identity on the block.

Consideration for Redfern:
‘Black heart; of Australia – Black Power movement
Strong political, spiritual and cultural significance to indigenous people from all of NSW and across Australia
Birthplace of many indigenous organizations and many activisms since 1970s

the 1970 establishment of the Redfern Aboriginal Legal Service; the 1971 Springbok rugby tour; and the Aboriginal Embassy in 1972. These three events helped define the ideas, personalities, actions and alliances that formed the Redfern Black Power movement, which in turn influenced indigenous political notions and actions for more than a decade. Indeed, today as significant sections of indigenous communities become disaffected with the illusions of progress represented by the era of Mabo and the Native Title Act, many are beginning to call for a return to the political strategies and tactics of the Black Power era. Thus there is a considerable residual perception in indigenous Australia that remembers the Black Power era as a time of greater social, political and economic gains than at any time since.

Identity
Crime – outside moral community – by means enemy
Salvation of the Sport; created as savior from crime.
‘Aboriginal Australians are the most gifted athletes on this earth. Therein lies their chance of survival and advancement’, Priest, T. 'The Australian' (Sydney) 18 Feb 2004, p.13
Survival and advancement refers to assimilation to culture and sport as vehicle accomodation of it. By means its linked to criminality


3 major factors from history that Indigenous Australian community that was bastardized by white:
‘Terra Nullius’ or land belongs to no one (by settlement) lead to land taken
Stolen Generation by white
Reconciliation

Victims Vs. Threats
Police act to protect white but the black people with their cultural power is believed as threat. This means the status of Aborigines never be possible regard as victims.
Implication to the future: Ambiguous and uncertainty to represent the Indigenous and Australian identity. Racial discrimination is believed the result from the past injustice about denial indigenous communities that remove their influence from the lives of Indigenous Australian in the present and future.

As Cathy already mentioned the media concern, here I want to stress that the ambiguity is more or less important struggle to generate the identity. Just to feel and think if we are one of them ‘How can we live in the compilation memories of theft, crime and murder?’. Blaming, threat that constructed and hand wash are the only concern by media and will never lead to fairness to Indigenous communities.

To be continued....(researching still in progress....)