A review by caffinate
Because a White Man'll Never Do It by Kevin Gilbert
3.0
It parallels arguments I’ve read from black American contemporaries like Malcolm X and James Baldwin – namely, a desire to be properly compensated for past wrongs of the white man, then to be left alone afterwards. It argues against forced assimilation with a white culture which does not actively desire a black presence; against white laws which seem more concerned with prosecuting blacks rather than protecting them.
I’m unsure how representative Gilbert’s views are of indigenous desires as a whole; it feels like an entry point to understanding the problem and needs, but certainly not a standalone read.
The language may be dated, but a lot of the material still rings true some 50 years later. While it may have been written pre-Mabo, it’s alarming how little has changed otherwise aside from politician and party names. Australia still has a huge problem with recognising the needs of its indigenous cultures, and it falls upon white people to amplify those indigenous voices from a population small enough for media to conveniently ignore.
I’m unsure how representative Gilbert’s views are of indigenous desires as a whole; it feels like an entry point to understanding the problem and needs, but certainly not a standalone read.
The language may be dated, but a lot of the material still rings true some 50 years later. While it may have been written pre-Mabo, it’s alarming how little has changed otherwise aside from politician and party names. Australia still has a huge problem with recognising the needs of its indigenous cultures, and it falls upon white people to amplify those indigenous voices from a population small enough for media to conveniently ignore.