2008 Woodie Awards
Western Society Prevents True Colorblindness in the Outback
Ethan Moore
Issue date: 3/31/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
I used to think I was an independent thinker and could experience things without predetermined reactions to them. I started off in Australia thinking that I could detach myself from the western world in order to learn about Aboriginal culture.
This was impossible because I already had a picture in my mind of how my experience with Aboriginal people would be. I had preconceived notions about Aboriginal society and part of me still expected to see "true" indigenous people living the nomadic lifestyle. Western society has trained us in thinking about difference. It is a binary process that creates an 'us' and a 'them' with the 'us' given higher status. Unfortunately, this training prevents us from actually seeing through the eyes of the other. This was evident when I first encountered a group of teen Aboriginal girls in the train station. Although I did not speak with the girls, I was very observant of the reactions of the people surrounding the girls. People were instantly aware of the "blackfellas' and the energy of the area changed to one of uncomfortable silence as if people didn't know what to expect of Aboriginal youth. It was clear that the image I held of Aboriginal culture was far from accurate.
I am taking classes in Aboriginal culture. In my first three hour course, my professor spoke about his experience as a black man in Australia. I should tell you that if you were to see this man on the street you would probably assume that he is white based on his coloring. This is a result of the commonwealth's attempt to bleach out the color from the late 1800's to the 1970's. However, regardless of this attempt, Australian Aboriginal people still feel a deep connection to their Aboriginality or 'blackness'. Back to my professor, as he spoke I realized that we had had similar experiences. He is faced with trying to define himself as a white-skinned black man in a non-accepting society. I have been trying to define myself within two contrasting cultures too. We have both fallen victim to racial slurs and the constant questioning of self.
Historically, the Australian Aboriginal story is close to the story of our Native Americans but socially their experience is closer to the black experience in America. It did trip me up to hear a seemingly white man call himself black. This again stems from the training I received in western culture to relate all things back to my personal experience.
I came to Australia expecting the Disney/Hollywood version of Aboriginal people. I wanted to learn to play the didjeridu and to be taken into a clan to be educated. In order for this journey - or odyssey if you will - to be successful, I had to recognize that indigenous culture has changed. The people are still deeply connected to the land but most of the Aboriginal people live in suburban Sydney. As my professor Anita jokes, she still hunts kangaroo, but now she does it in the supermarket.
This was impossible because I already had a picture in my mind of how my experience with Aboriginal people would be. I had preconceived notions about Aboriginal society and part of me still expected to see "true" indigenous people living the nomadic lifestyle. Western society has trained us in thinking about difference. It is a binary process that creates an 'us' and a 'them' with the 'us' given higher status. Unfortunately, this training prevents us from actually seeing through the eyes of the other. This was evident when I first encountered a group of teen Aboriginal girls in the train station. Although I did not speak with the girls, I was very observant of the reactions of the people surrounding the girls. People were instantly aware of the "blackfellas' and the energy of the area changed to one of uncomfortable silence as if people didn't know what to expect of Aboriginal youth. It was clear that the image I held of Aboriginal culture was far from accurate.
I am taking classes in Aboriginal culture. In my first three hour course, my professor spoke about his experience as a black man in Australia. I should tell you that if you were to see this man on the street you would probably assume that he is white based on his coloring. This is a result of the commonwealth's attempt to bleach out the color from the late 1800's to the 1970's. However, regardless of this attempt, Australian Aboriginal people still feel a deep connection to their Aboriginality or 'blackness'. Back to my professor, as he spoke I realized that we had had similar experiences. He is faced with trying to define himself as a white-skinned black man in a non-accepting society. I have been trying to define myself within two contrasting cultures too. We have both fallen victim to racial slurs and the constant questioning of self.
Historically, the Australian Aboriginal story is close to the story of our Native Americans but socially their experience is closer to the black experience in America. It did trip me up to hear a seemingly white man call himself black. This again stems from the training I received in western culture to relate all things back to my personal experience.
I came to Australia expecting the Disney/Hollywood version of Aboriginal people. I wanted to learn to play the didjeridu and to be taken into a clan to be educated. In order for this journey - or odyssey if you will - to be successful, I had to recognize that indigenous culture has changed. The people are still deeply connected to the land but most of the Aboriginal people live in suburban Sydney. As my professor Anita jokes, she still hunts kangaroo, but now she does it in the supermarket.