Andrew+and+Shivraj

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We chose this picture because it shows that the aboriginal people are taken away from their culture and they are forced to live in a Capitalist white society. All the older aboriginals appear to be very unhappy whereas the little girl is smiling. Ignorance is bliss. There are no white people in this picture and may symbolize that aboriginal culture is isolated.

- Shivraj and Andrew



- Shivraj and Andrew

NO MORE BOOMERANG Words: Walker (Noonuccal) Tune: Lobl

No more boomerang no more spear, Now all civilised colour bar and beer, No more corroboree gay dance and din, Now we got movies and pay to go in. No more sharing what the hunter brings, Now we work for money and pay it back for things, Now we track bosses to catch a few bob, Now we go walkabout on bus to the job. One time naked who never knew shame, Now we put clothes on to hide whatsaname. No more gunyah now bungalow, Paid by hire purchase in twenty years or so. Lay down the stone axe take up the steel, Work like a nigger for a white man's meal, No more firestick that made whites scoff, Now all electric and no better off. Bunyip he finish got now instead, White-fella bunyip call him red. Abstract pictures now, what they comin' at Cripes in our caves we did better than that. Black hunted wallaby, white hunt dollar. White-fella witch-doctor wear dog collar. No more message lubras and lads, Got television now, mostly ads, Lay down the woomera, lay down the waddy, No we got atom bomb. End everybody.

The Following text is a poem written by Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and was written in 1985. This was the last poem that Kath Walker wrote. This poem illustrates a somewhat comedic approach to the typical aboriginal Australian stereotype.

This poem looks at how the aboriginal people of Australia had to adapt to the white settlement, and this poem shows that they found it hard to conform in white society. It enhances the stereotype that aboriginal people are uneducated through her use of basic words and use of slang such as when she said “Now we put clothes on to hide whatsaname” this shows that she uses very basical language and implies that she may not be one of the smartest people around. Kath Walker may actually be smart, and know that the majority of aboriginals cannot understand flowery words and adjusted her vocabulary to suit the audience that this poem was directed at. The thing about a simple vocabulary is that both smart and ‘dumb’ people can still understand what the person is trying to say.

Kath Walker’s use of slang makes this poem extremely close and personal. She follows the KISS principle (Keep it simple, stupid) and the poem flows and works marvelously. It is written in the style of just being a simple poem incorporating rhyming. The poem itself is very simple and a 10 year old would not have any trouble reading it.

Depending on your ethnic group, this poem could be seen in many different ways. Someone from an ‘ignorant’ white background would probably only see this poem as a complaint, and disagree with many of the things that she is saying. An aboriginal however, would see this as an inspirational poem and agree with her words wholeheartedly. Kath Walker uses a mix of modern terms ‘Now we got atom bomb’ and cleverly mixes them with traditional aboriginal items. “No more firestick that made whites scoff, now all electric and no better off”. This shows that Kath Walker and other aboriginals clearly do not like living in this sort of environment and she has ingeniously mixed the two worlds together in this crafty poem.

In conclusion, this poem reinforces the idea that aboriginals are being discriminated, as the poem illustrates things such as how modern or rather ‘white’ technology has stripped them of their culture and their natural heritage. Ironically however, Kath walker never lived as a true aboriginal and adopted a traditional aboriginal name later in life. Whether or not she would prefer that kind of lifestyle is unknown. This poem was very effective and was enjoyable to read due to its simplicity. - Andrew and Shivraj

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**Samson and Delilah **

In an **isolated community ** in the central desert of Australia, Delilah spends the days caring for her cheeky, elderly grandmother, Nana, helping her produce her artwork and trying to avoid Samson. Samson wants nothing more than to get the attention of Delilah. He spends his days listening to his ghetto blaster and trying to play in his brother's reggae band. Unfortunately he likes rock 'n' roll but they play reggae. But **Samson is addicted to petrol-sniffing ** and the **horrifying images of Samson cradling his addiction almost as if it was a baby, shows the dysfunction and immobility of his life. ** Samson and Delilah are two teenagers **growing up without family support ** in a community outside Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. They fall in love. Faced with **the challenges of poverty, violence, homelessness, boredom, drugs and sexual abuse, they are almost crushed and substance abuse in aboriginal communities, but survive **. Delilah **unsuccessfully attempts to sell paintings ** in Alice Springs; **Samson’s petrol sniffing escalates **. The teenagers’ **lives spiral out of control with catastrophic consequences **. This is a typical stereotype of aboriginal people.

-Shivraj and Andrew

One of my best friends- Peter Goldsworthy

One of my best friends is a short story written by Peter Goldsworthy in 1994.

In” One of my best friends” by Peter Goldsworthy the author describes how he befriends an aboriginal, boy at school, Willy. The author indicates that Willy fits the typical aboriginal stereotype, i.e. he is a loner, looks different and acts differently “tar brush and flat nose” from the other kids in the school. The author gives him a chance to be different from this stereotype by being friendly with him and supporting him even when he gets picked on. However, at the end of the article he realizes that despite what he thought in the beginning Willy acts and behaves like a typical aboriginal. Like his father always said ‘once a boong, always a boong”. He also says that kids they don’t really notice the difference in each other as much as when you’re older. His parents were even willing to adopt him because the two boys became quite close.. however Willy was just happy doing what he was doing, being a typical “abo”. This text subverts the idea of aboriginals being discriminating as Peter and his parents seem to be very open minded throughout the whole story. He does not seem to care one bit at the fact that Willy was an aboriginal. In the story he shows respect and empathy towards Willy. Andrew and Shivraj

Shivraj here is a link to the text you were looking for: [] pgs. 78-82