Black Power Movement in Australia - Essay Example

BLACK POWER MOVEMENT Name Institution Course Professor Date BLACK POWER MOVEMENT Introduction The contemporary society advocates for equality and the observance of rights of the minority groups. These campaigns aim in uplifting the social lives of the minorities and vulnerable groups as a means to bridge the segregation of societies. Myers (2016, p. 15) introduces the case of the aborigines, a marginalised community in Australia decentralised and placed in particular location namely the outstations. As provided through history, the aborigines are the descendants and founders of the lands in regions such as Australia. However, being a minority population, the community today is much decentralised and alienated from most of Australia population (Myers, 2016, p. 15). Contributing to the topic is the views of Isin and Nyers (2014, p. 1) introducing the concept of citizenship. Marginalised communities globally have undergone difficult struggles to attain a citizenship status and the advantages that come with it. Such is the case of the rise of the Black Power Movement channelling the observance of civil rights of the black society facing severe oppression and discrimination from the white societies. Therefore, the essay examines the Black Power Movement in Australia addressing the inspiration behind the movement and its historical significance. It through such movements that the marginalised people acquired equal treatment and recognition previously denied through the structures of the society. Black Power Movement in Australia Societal differences, especially regarding race saw the rise of the black movement whose origins dates back in the 1960’s (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 61; Myers, 2016, p. 95). During these periods, the people were more conscious of their colour and its interpretation about the political and civil spheres. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 61) provide the awareness of the Australian public on racial segregation as early as 1920’s with the example of the establishment of the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association in New South Wales by the aborigines about this period. The association aimed at the restitutions of their lands and a channel to advocate for their citizenship status (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 60). Other examples include the Aborigines Advancement League and the Ratana movement in the neighbouring New Zealand. However, the Black Movement followed a different approach than the political model utilised by the aforementioned examples. In particular, it is important to understand the leadership of the movement based on the indigenous people of these regions as well as the use of a confrontation tactic to address the grievances of the blacks (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 61). According to Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 61), the black movement originates from the US, following the split of the black civil rights movement. A significant outcome of the movement is the availability of a direct channel characteristic of enhanced activism to attain sovereignty. Further insight by Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 61) highlights the particulars of the movement including its features of being independent and community-based. A common feature of the black movement in the various countries including Australia involves an end to the white oppression through encouraging more political unity among the black irrespective of ideological, social and religious differences (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 62). The imperative is the local force in stemming the efforts of the movement to change the racial perception on an international level. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 63) present the particular predicament faced by the aborigines in their social, economic and political lives. In particular, there comes land alienation, racial prejudice, destitution, and an oppressive political structure oppressing the blacks. Land for the aborigines not only represents an economic resource but is of cultural and social significance (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 63). Therefore, the rise of movement and its support for the independence of the black person became much supported by the aborigines. Moreover, the alienation from the ancestral land resonates neglecting and discrimination of these communities by the dominant society. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 65) discuss three channels leading to the rise of the Black Movement in Australia including an international input, regional, and intra-national. These channels facilitated the availability of various model to communicate and present the grievance of the black people including a political front and the extensive use of the media. Inspiration of the Movement in Australia According to Myers (2016, p. 96), the Aboriginal self-determination movement including the Black Power lobby group were inspired by international associations advocating for civil rights and national liberation of the marginalised individuals. Contributing to the external influence in the rise of the Australian movement is the discussion by Isin and Myers (2014, p. 19), mentioning the Black Power movement of US as a source of political inspiration for the aborigines. It is important to highlight that Isin and Nyers (2014, p. 19) focus on attainment of a citizenship status and an equal consideration of the black societies in these nations. In particular, the activist movement in the US advocated for civil rights to the blacks including the right to vote. Therefore, the aborigines adopted a similar political approach to alleviate the suffering of their communities from the white dominances. The United States being among the first societies to become colour conscious provided other indigenous communities with a power to fight for their independence (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 60). The imperative is the contributions of significant personalities such as Marcus Garvey engineering the rise of aborigine leaders to spearhead the activities of the Black Power Movement (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 60). Moreover, the broadening of the Black Power spectrum to include an international black consciousness movement changed the meaning and perception of the black. Based on Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 61), following the expansion of the movement, the term black identified a political expression of a discriminated people who are active in challenging the systems in the society. In this case, the US redefined the Indigenous status across the Oceania geographies. It is through the outcomes of activist movements that the Black Power gained momentum in Australia. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 63) provide the example of the Black Panthers in the US managing to sensitise the black population in the US. The outcome of the lobby group includes the empowerment of the blacks to become independent and exercise their civil rights. It is through the activities of the group that injustices to the minorities gained public attentions influence a change in policy, especially regarding the capitalism and injustices to these populations (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 62). The availability of an international exchange of ideas prompted the society to point analogies of the suffering present in the different nations. The significance of such an interaction of ideologies for the aborigines stirred the community to develop excellent strategies informing a change in the society (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 64). Significant to these exchanges of thoughts is the interaction of the black American soldiers on a recuperating in Sydney. According to Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 65), the interactions of the soldiers with the local aborigines in Sidney generated greater political awareness. An example of a positive outcome of such interactions is the use of symbols and slogans that portray positive attributes of the black person (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 65). Historical Significance The presence of global political activist movements is of historical significance, especially to the current society who appreciates the struggle of the ancestors. Without these lobby groups, the minority population would still experience alienations, discriminations, and injustices. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 65) emphasise on the significance of the transnational networks created through the combining of efforts from national movements. It is through these transnational contexts that it became possible to develop a global community advocating the end of colonialist systems and the oppression of the black person across continents (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 65). Moreover, the joining of these groups attracted an international audience leading to the change in policies and societal systems. Stastny and Orr (2014, p. 66) provides the advantage of the movement in Australia by availing resources to these communities. An imperative example is the opening of Australian legal aid centre for Aborigine population in Sydney and later in Melbourne providing the aborigines with a guide to their rights. It is also significant to include the response by the media to these activities enhancing the empowerment of these minorities (Stastny & Orr, 2014, p. 66). Isin and Nyers (2014, p. 3) includes that the movement was one of which the aborigines managed to gain a citizenship status in Australia. Being a citizen meant the availability of equal rights and justice. Comparatively, Myers (2016, p. 96) explains of the movements and how they generated the establishment of communities in locations known as outstations. Through the outstation, the aborigines managed to preserve their culture interpreting to the continuation of their generations. Conclusion In summary, the Black movement in Australia was a political and social group established by the aborigines. The lobby group aimed to see an end to the injustices directed to the blacks in Australia. It is important to mention the influence of the original activist movement in the US and its significant role in inspiring the expansion of the black consciousness association in oceanic regions. More important is the transnational context generated through the merging of the particular intrastate group to generate a global community against the treatment of the black man. It is worthwhile to mention of the historical significance of the movement including its positive outcomes illustrated by the establishment of legal entities and the gaining of a citizenship status by the aborigines. Therefore, the movement in Australia was successful despite its challenges. References Isin, E.F. and Nyers, P., 2014. Routledge handbook of global citizenship studies. Routledge. Myers, F., 2016. History, memory and the politics of self-determination at an early outstation. Experiments in self-determination: Histories of the outstation movement in Australia, p.81. Stastny, A. and Orr, R., 2014. The influence of the US Black Panthers on indigenous activism in Australia and New Zealand from 1969 onwards. Australian Aboriginal Studies, (2), p.60. Read More