Racism and the Freedom ride.

It is hard to believe it is only 50 yrs ago that Aboriginal people were treated so appallingly because of racism and apartheid.


White supremacy meant segregation at local town amenities.
Children were not allowed to swim in public pool after 3:30pm, men could fight and die for Australia but faced exclusion from RSL clubs and Aboriginals weren't welcome at movie Theatres.

Have you heard about the Freedom Ride 50th Anniversary - they exposed Australia to the racism ‪#‎freedomride50‬

The Freedom Ride was an important catalyst for some substantial changes in Aboriginal affairs over the next 10 years or so.

Not to mention their dire living conditions - housing, health, and education.

Significantly, The Freedom ride brought Charles Perkins to prominence as a passionate and articulate Aboriginal leader who was not afraid to tell white Australians just how disastrous their racism was for the lives and opportunities of his people.

The Freedom Ride of 1965 was a significant event in the history of civil rights for Indigenous Australians. Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, students from the University of Sydney led by the legendary Charles Perkins embarked on a journey through western New South Wales to expose racism and segregation. 50 years on, the bus has headed west again to honour the legacy the Freedom Rides.

I admit I knew nothing about the Freedom ride till yesterday.

My children and I have Aboriginal friends and I just can't fathom it.

Apartheid and white supremacy still occurring years after the Holocaust !
Not that I'm comparing the horrors of the people murdered by Hitler - just the reckoning behind it.
As if one race is supreme to another.

Photo: The FreedomRiders protested against the exclusion of Aboriginal people in Walgett, Moree,Kempsey, and Bowraville. (Credit: University of Sydney)

 Read the ABC story here http://www.abc.net.au/…/20…/freedom-rides-remembered/6130544  


Living in a large regional country town, with a lot of Aboriginal people ,there is still an element of racism and indigenous families are still disadvantaged.

The recreation of the ride, touring the country towns involved 50yrs ago with a few celebrities Troy Cassar-Daley and Paul Kelly and original freedom riders, is happening now. We enjoyed a short free concert in the local showground last night...with our aboriginal friend and her son - my sons little mate. She is an educator and passionate advocate for Aboriginal youth in her school. She is also a great chick and we have a lot of laughs.
 


Yes, a lot of changes have been made but racism prevails - it is such a big issue and I've leave it there.



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Little Losers ... not so funny

Megan @ Imaginif wrote this post about a line of t-shirts being sold in Jay Jays trading on the back of the Little Miss and Mr Men characters, popular children’s books, by Roger Hargreaves.

Except these t-shirts have the names Miss Wasted, Mr Drunk, Mr Well Hung and more. Even the original MR men have been changed now to be more PC.

I know some teens would see these as harmless and funny, as would some adults, but seriously are these labels and behaviours what we want to encourage of our youth. I know there are much bigger issues out there in child protection and safety. It all has to start some where. Who wants their son to be known as Mr P.imp or Ass.hole?

It is lowering the bar even more in terms of acceptable behaviour and clothing. I still hate my teen wearing his pants half way down and boxers showing out the top.

I shudder when I see young tweens in adult and provocative clothing. I remember as a teen being harassed about my budding breasts through my t-shirts by joking adults (actually friends of relatives) - I had nothing to put even in a training bra and I was made to feel dirty by their comments (on several occasions) . I made sure I covered up always in a jacket, even in summer, for a while outside of home.

Yes, some might say it is our freedom to dress as we please and the social 'morality' police have no right to comment but it all comes back to a community responsibility to guide our teens in the right direction. These shirts no do nothing except send the wrong message

that dumb our kids down and encourage illegal and abusive behaviour!

I would be quite embarrassed actually for my son too - imagining what people might think of him.

Megan says if you heard someone saying such negative things to your child -you would be creating a furore.

In this country we can voice our opinion and I encourage those who find these t shirts offensive to send their complaint to Jay Jay's too. More details @ Imaginif.