Methods and strategies for Aboriginal Rights

Day of Mourning 1938

Impact of WWII

Influence of USA Civil Rights Movement

Charles Perkins and the Freedom Riders

1938 Day of Mourning: Different perspectives

26 January 1938 marked  To the Indigenous Australians,

the 150th anniversary of the anniversary of the landing

of the First Fleet was referred
the First Fleet. to as a 'Day of Mourning.'
To many white-  The date marked 150 years of
Australians, this date degradation and mistreatment
represented how far by the white settlers.
 It symbolised the beginning of
Australia had progressed
the decimation of their people
– It was an opportunity and the loss of their land, their
for them to be proud of culture and their basic human
how Australia had rights.
flourished since the early
days of settlement.
 1938 Day of Mourning

Aboriginal people also saw the day as an

opportunity:
a)to draw the attention of white-Australia, to the
violations of the Indigenous population in the past
b)To raise awareness about the importance of
securing the future of
Aboriginal people as
equal citizens.
 Day of Mourning

Complete the activities in your booklet on the 1938

Day of Mourning (pg 18-21)
 Impact of WWII

After WWII there Many Aboriginal

was increasing activism stockmen, labourers and
(action) from domestic workers started
to demand better pay,
Aboriginal Australians
work & living conditions
to improve their basic and civil rights
standards of living and Strikes were used to try
to obtain some rights and bring about change.
given to white The first recorded strike
Australians which was in 1945 from the
were denied to them Pilbara (WA) cattle
station workers
 Influence of the US Civil Rights Movement

On the 6 May 1954 Australian students, shocked by the

attacks on activists in the United States, staged a protest
in front of the US consulate in Sydney.
They burnt a cross in protest and dressed up like
members of the KKK.
In recognition of the discrimination in Australia against
Indigenous peoples – the organisers of the protest called
for action.
 The STUDENT ACTION for ABORIGINIES (SFA)
was formed and Charles Perkins was elected as
their President.
CHARLES PERKINS AND THE
FREEDOM RIDES
 Who was Charles Perkins?

 The leader of the Freedom riders

 He was the first Aboriginal Australian to graduate from a university and
only one of two aboriginals on the freedom riders bus.
 Charles Perkins became a national figure and role model for aboriginal
Australians.
 His Freedom ride showed that non-violent action could result in
change.
 Charles Perkins continued throughout his life to campaign for
aboriginal rights. He effectively addressed the inequalities in Aboriginal
Australians access to education, health, housing and employment.
 THE FREEDOM RIDES

 In 1965, Perkins led 29

students on a bus tour of
NSW.
 Based on the American
idea this Freedom Ride
aimed to investigate and
confront racism and to
improve the rights and
freedoms of Aboriginal
Australians.
 THE FREEDOM RIDES: WHY?

 Aim was to raise awareness of discrimination

against Aboriginals and attempt to change it.

 The areas activists targeted were: inadequate living

conditions and provision of accommodation; lack of
access to health services; desegregation; denial of
access to public spaces and facilities such as pools,
clubs, pubs and libraries.
 THE FREEDOM RIDES: HOW?

 They surveyed indigenous and non-indigenous

members of the rural communities they visited about
their perceptions of living, housing, health and
education conditions of Aborigines in their localities.
 If discrimination was evident, the Freedom Riders
would publicise this and attempt to remove the
injustice/inequality.
 Adopted a policy of ‘non-violent’ protest based on
the methods of Martin Luther King in the USA
movement.
 THE FREEDOM RIDES

WHERE?
 32,000 km journey
 Targeted rural
communities/towns in
NSW including
Walgett, Moree,
Kempsey and Lismore
 The problem in Walgett?
owns they aimed to confront?

- The local R.S.L club refused entry to aborigines, including

aborigine ex-servicemen who had fought in WW1 & WWII.

- The Freedom riders formed a picket line outside the club.

Including posters proclaiming ‘aborigines also fought’ &
‘Bullets did not discriminate’.

- A line of cars and trucks followed the bus out of the town,
one angry driver forcing the bus off the road.
Walgett: ‘Aborigines also fought’

‘Bullets did not discriminate’

 The problem in Moree?

- The bus moved onto Moree and a new issue of

discrimination!
- A 1955 council by-law prohibiting Aborigines (except in
school hours) from using the local swimming pools.
- Other examples of Racism include the refusal to allow
aboriginal patients to share hospital facilities with white
patients and the insistence they be buried in a part of the
local cemetery that was separate from the section for white
people.
The reaction from the freedom riders!
 They got 8 aboriginal children and took them down to the
local pool. In a cunning bid to gain them entry.
 The manager refused to let them in saying ‘darkies are not
allowed in’.
 A large crowd gathered over the next hour and after a long
discussion between the local manager, 4 policemen and the
mayor, they came to a conclusion that the children were
allowed in if they were ‘clean’.
 The Freedom riders left Moree with the false idea that they
had been successful in having the ban overturned.
Moree: ‘Darkies not allowed in’
A photo of Charles Perkins being led
away from Moree pool
 A 2nd attempt!!!

After 3 days the mayor re-imposed the ban.

Another brave attempt by the Freedom Riders
resulted in them returning with 6 children from a
local reserve.
After three hours they were still turned away,
about 500 locals turned on them hurling abuse and
spitting on them.
The Riders later said they feared for their lives.
Leader Charles Perkins in Moree pool
 Getting in the swim!

Source:
John Frith

Melbourne Herald,
20 February 1965
 Activities

1. Complete source task on page 24

2. Watch Blood Brothers – Freedom Riders – H104
(60 mins) and complete the questions in your
booklet (pg 25-26)
 WHAT IMPACT DID THE FREEDOM RIDES
HAVE ON DIFFERENT GROUPS AT THE TIME

 Aboriginal communities – gave them confidence

to continue protest and campaign for improving
rights and freedoms and the elimination of
discrimination.
 Non – Aboriginal communities – Were exposed
to extensive media coverage of the explicit
discrimination imposed on Aboriginal people and
began to challenge the governments policies and
direction of Aboriginal ‘welfare’.
 WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE AND
RESULTS OF THE FREEDOMS RIDES?

 Provided national and international exposure to the

racial discrimination inflicted on Aboriginal
communities in Australia.
 Success of movement proved that non-violent action
could result in significant political and social
change/reform.
 Demonstrated Charles Perkins’ effective leadership,
organisational skills and determination to enact
positive change for Aboriginals.
 Impact of the freedom rides

Long Term Short Term