Australia's Role In The Civil Rights Movement
The US Civil Rights Movement (1 – 19 ) , played a pivotal- role in influencing Aboriginal Activism in Australia's past, the media had raised awareness on the inequalities predominantly faced by African Americans informed Indigenous Australians vouching for change in their society. Many successful forms of protest and events in the US Civil Rights movement served as the foundation upon which many similar strategies were employed by Aboriginal Activists.. The aforementioned notion allows for parallels/links to be drawn between instances such as the US and Australian Freedom rides, the advent of various organisations advocating for equality for their respective peoples as well as the adoption of philosophies preached by key leaders in the US Civil Rights movement and dignitaries within Aboriginal Activism. Instances of protest in the US Civil
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Rights Movement which saw tangible placed a heavy influence on Aboriginal Activism as they the Aboriginals were more likely to utilise strategies used previously in the US Civil Rights Movement to combat inequality.
Led by Charles Perkins, the Australian freedom rides which raised awareness l Aboriginal citizen rights were directly influenced by their predecessors i.e.
the US freedom ride,led by Martin Luther King Junior - due to interest sparked in Australia by the media. On May 4 1961, 13 people- including African- American and white civil rights activists officially commenced the US Freedom Rides. The Australian freedom rides capitalised on the notion that raising awareness is an efficient method as well as a critical factor pertaining to informing the general populace, , about the inequalities faced by Aboriginal Australians. the freedom rides occurring in America set an example to all activists that non violent protest in the forms such as the freedom rides was essential in the fight to raise awareness in society about racial discrimination, as can be seen IN THE SOURCE A,C and D (all photographs of public American 'public' transport all suggest that segregation existed in many forms of transport, thus reinforcing and cementing the idea that reform was a necessity in order for equality and
desegregation.
The importance of the US freedom rides was reflected within the abolishment of 'Jim Crow Laws'-in the Southern state of America)' as a result of the 1964 Voting Rights Act, signed by president Lyndon B. Johnson. A decisive factor flaunting the effectiveness of the freedom riders' campaign, paving the path for the Australian freedom riders. The 1964 Voting Rights Act, under which segregation and disenfranchisement (revocation of the right to vote) of African Americans was abolished in the Southern State of America. Thus it is very likely that the successful results of the American Freedom rides, resulted in the optimism of Aboriginal activists, such as Charles Perkins, as participating in a similar form of protest could be met with tangible results or steps towards equality towards Aboriginal Australians. The impacts of the media on the progress of the US civil rights movement was essential for the knowledge of Australians as implied in the excerpt from Ann Curthoy's (a renowned historian who had partaken in the Australian Freedom Rides) , “ The American civil rights movement was well known in Australia at this time, through press and television.” The aforementioned excerpt from Curthoy's highlights the fact that the knowledge of the US freedom rides was vital in order for the undertaking of the Australian Freedom Rides to occur in the first place. Some key differences to be noted between the American and Australian Freedom rides are that there was no segregation. Overall, it is clear that key similarities between the Australian and American Freedom rides is indicative of its influence on Aboriginal activism, as mirroring the US freedom rides had likely would have led to hope and optimism within the Aboriginal community for gaining equal rights. The fact that the fundamental concept of the American freedom rides had been repeated had turned the the previously mentioned form of protest into an icon thus accentuating the impacts and broadening the scope of intended effect. Ultimately, the situation of Aboriginals at the time of ---- was deeply ingrained into the minds of society: this concept was diluted down in strength in some form by the Australian freedom rides. The media had spread about the knowledge necessary for the
The adoption of non-violent philosophies of influential leaders of the US civil rights movement by their Australian counterparts reflected the impacts of the US Civil Rights movement on Aboriginal activism in Australia. The philosophies of non-violent protest were directly echoed by the mindset adopted by groups such as SAFA (Student Action For Aborigines), . Prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Junior influenced the actions of many aboriginal activists in Australia such as Charles Perkins. Such Philosophies were more likely to be adopted by Aboriginal Activists if a major success had resulted as a consequence of the forms of protest or philosophies implemented behind the protest has a signified impact of the US Civil Rights Movement. Professor Ann Curthoy's, an activist who participated in the Australian Freedom rides, states the impact of Martin Luther King's influence on their overarching philosophy, “ So, with King’s philosophy of non-violent direct action firmly in our heads...”
The previous excerpt reiterates the idea that philosophies on non-violent protest, which was preached by individuals such as Martin Luther King Junior, in the US Civil Rights movement were mirrored by the Australian Freedom riders. The non-violent approach to protesting taken on by the Australian Freedom Riders, was carried out in thorough effect through forms of protest such as picketing (involving protesters congregating outside a location or place to dissuade others from going inside- or to raise awareness for a cause) at Walgett RSL as seen in Source B. Source B depicts student protesters from SAFA setting up a picket fence, on the 15th February 1965, protesting peacefully in order to dissuade people from entering Walgett RSL NSW., SAFA targeted Walgett RSL as it did not extend the of 'mate-ship' and reverence given to other white ANZAC soldiers, the same reverence and 'mate ship' which was not give to Aboriginal ANZAC soldiers. Clearly, the non-violent philosophy preached by Martin Luther King was embraced by the individuals in SAFA.
The establishment of organisations-in an attempt for large scale activism leading to reform-, due to an indirect correspondence between individuals in the US Civil Rights Movement and Aboriginal activists, such as the united Negroes Universal Negro Improvement and Association and the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association ( with political agendas highlighted the influence aspects of the US civil rights movement had on Aboriginal Activism in Australia. In the earlier stages of the US Civil Rights movement signified the development of the first Aboriginal association politically striving for the equal status and rights of indigenous Australians. Founded by Marcus Garvey the United Negroes Improvement Association focussed on fighting for land rights active recognition as Aboriginal Australian citizen and to fight for equality. The aims of the UNIA were identical to that of the UNIA as Maynard was greatly involved within the Coloured Progressive Association. The influence of Garvey on Maynard highlights the importance of the UNIA onin order of the establishment of the AAPA. Fred Maynard, the founder of the AAPA, was greatly influenced by the Marcus Garvey's UNIA and the mass support it collected as suggested in Professor John Maynard's article:' Vision, Voice and Influence- The Rise of the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association, implies that the fundamental ideas at the core of the UNIA had influenced the concepts of the AAPA. Clearly, Maynard was optimistic about the implications, impacts and changes an organisation of his own could incite, however the AAPA disbanded in the 1930's as a result of the Great Depression. Hence, the advent of the UNIA, which sought the ignition of mass changes in society, exacted direct influences on the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association- thus indicating the influence the US Civil Rights Movement had on large scale Aboriginal activism in Australia.
As a result of attention given to the US Civil Rights Movement by the media, the adoption of philosophical idealogies by leaders and the advent of organisations in order to incite massive changes in society, the US Civil Rights Mpvement heavily influenced Aboriginal activism . The influence was dependant on the degree of pressure exercisd by American Activists and their respective successes of their protests, thus insighting a form of optimism into the minds of Aboriginal Activists, as previous violent attempts to revolutionise the australian constitution had failed.
Rights Movement which saw tangible placed a heavy influence on Aboriginal Activism as they the Aboriginals were more likely to utilise strategies used previously in the US Civil Rights Movement to combat inequality.
Led by Charles Perkins, the Australian freedom rides which raised awareness l Aboriginal citizen rights were directly influenced by their predecessors i.e.
the US freedom ride,led by Martin Luther King Junior - due to interest sparked in Australia by the media. On May 4 1961, 13 people- including African- American and white civil rights activists officially commenced the US Freedom Rides. The Australian freedom rides capitalised on the notion that raising awareness is an efficient method as well as a critical factor pertaining to informing the general populace, , about the inequalities faced by Aboriginal Australians. the freedom rides occurring in America set an example to all activists that non violent protest in the forms such as the freedom rides was essential in the fight to raise awareness in society about racial discrimination, as can be seen IN THE SOURCE A,C and D (all photographs of public American 'public' transport all suggest that segregation existed in many forms of transport, thus reinforcing and cementing the idea that reform was a necessity in order for equality and
desegregation.
The importance of the US freedom rides was reflected within the abolishment of 'Jim Crow Laws'-in the Southern state of America)' as a result of the 1964 Voting Rights Act, signed by president Lyndon B. Johnson. A decisive factor flaunting the effectiveness of the freedom riders' campaign, paving the path for the Australian freedom riders. The 1964 Voting Rights Act, under which segregation and disenfranchisement (revocation of the right to vote) of African Americans was abolished in the Southern State of America. Thus it is very likely that the successful results of the American Freedom rides, resulted in the optimism of Aboriginal activists, such as Charles Perkins, as participating in a similar form of protest could be met with tangible results or steps towards equality towards Aboriginal Australians. The impacts of the media on the progress of the US civil rights movement was essential for the knowledge of Australians as implied in the excerpt from Ann Curthoy's (a renowned historian who had partaken in the Australian Freedom Rides) , “ The American civil rights movement was well known in Australia at this time, through press and television.” The aforementioned excerpt from Curthoy's highlights the fact that the knowledge of the US freedom rides was vital in order for the undertaking of the Australian Freedom Rides to occur in the first place. Some key differences to be noted between the American and Australian Freedom rides are that there was no segregation. Overall, it is clear that key similarities between the Australian and American Freedom rides is indicative of its influence on Aboriginal activism, as mirroring the US freedom rides had likely would have led to hope and optimism within the Aboriginal community for gaining equal rights. The fact that the fundamental concept of the American freedom rides had been repeated had turned the the previously mentioned form of protest into an icon thus accentuating the impacts and broadening the scope of intended effect. Ultimately, the situation of Aboriginals at the time of ---- was deeply ingrained into the minds of society: this concept was diluted down in strength in some form by the Australian freedom rides. The media had spread about the knowledge necessary for the
The adoption of non-violent philosophies of influential leaders of the US civil rights movement by their Australian counterparts reflected the impacts of the US Civil Rights movement on Aboriginal activism in Australia. The philosophies of non-violent protest were directly echoed by the mindset adopted by groups such as SAFA (Student Action For Aborigines), . Prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Junior influenced the actions of many aboriginal activists in Australia such as Charles Perkins. Such Philosophies were more likely to be adopted by Aboriginal Activists if a major success had resulted as a consequence of the forms of protest or philosophies implemented behind the protest has a signified impact of the US Civil Rights Movement. Professor Ann Curthoy's, an activist who participated in the Australian Freedom rides, states the impact of Martin Luther King's influence on their overarching philosophy, “ So, with King’s philosophy of non-violent direct action firmly in our heads...”
The previous excerpt reiterates the idea that philosophies on non-violent protest, which was preached by individuals such as Martin Luther King Junior, in the US Civil Rights movement were mirrored by the Australian Freedom riders. The non-violent approach to protesting taken on by the Australian Freedom Riders, was carried out in thorough effect through forms of protest such as picketing (involving protesters congregating outside a location or place to dissuade others from going inside- or to raise awareness for a cause) at Walgett RSL as seen in Source B. Source B depicts student protesters from SAFA setting up a picket fence, on the 15th February 1965, protesting peacefully in order to dissuade people from entering Walgett RSL NSW., SAFA targeted Walgett RSL as it did not extend the of 'mate-ship' and reverence given to other white ANZAC soldiers, the same reverence and 'mate ship' which was not give to Aboriginal ANZAC soldiers. Clearly, the non-violent philosophy preached by Martin Luther King was embraced by the individuals in SAFA.
The establishment of organisations-in an attempt for large scale activism leading to reform-, due to an indirect correspondence between individuals in the US Civil Rights Movement and Aboriginal activists, such as the united Negroes Universal Negro Improvement and Association and the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association ( with political agendas highlighted the influence aspects of the US civil rights movement had on Aboriginal Activism in Australia. In the earlier stages of the US Civil Rights movement signified the development of the first Aboriginal association politically striving for the equal status and rights of indigenous Australians. Founded by Marcus Garvey the United Negroes Improvement Association focussed on fighting for land rights active recognition as Aboriginal Australian citizen and to fight for equality. The aims of the UNIA were identical to that of the UNIA as Maynard was greatly involved within the Coloured Progressive Association. The influence of Garvey on Maynard highlights the importance of the UNIA onin order of the establishment of the AAPA. Fred Maynard, the founder of the AAPA, was greatly influenced by the Marcus Garvey's UNIA and the mass support it collected as suggested in Professor John Maynard's article:' Vision, Voice and Influence- The Rise of the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association, implies that the fundamental ideas at the core of the UNIA had influenced the concepts of the AAPA. Clearly, Maynard was optimistic about the implications, impacts and changes an organisation of his own could incite, however the AAPA disbanded in the 1930's as a result of the Great Depression. Hence, the advent of the UNIA, which sought the ignition of mass changes in society, exacted direct influences on the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association- thus indicating the influence the US Civil Rights Movement had on large scale Aboriginal activism in Australia.
As a result of attention given to the US Civil Rights Movement by the media, the adoption of philosophical idealogies by leaders and the advent of organisations in order to incite massive changes in society, the US Civil Rights Mpvement heavily influenced Aboriginal activism . The influence was dependant on the degree of pressure exercisd by American Activists and their respective successes of their protests, thus insighting a form of optimism into the minds of Aboriginal Activists, as previous violent attempts to revolutionise the australian constitution had failed.