Unity within Injustice
Story by Jillian Smith, photograph by Jon Tyson
Let’s clear the air: I am so very privileged. I have been able to experience many different cultures and places in my life. These experiences would mean nothing to me or anyone if I did not learn anything. I value being able to help people no matter who they are, if I like them or not, or if I agree with their beliefs. So, I would like to preface this writing by saying I am here to serve and help, unify cultures across the world, and shed light on problems that countries might neglect. There is far too much to be learned by ourselves. We need each other, and we need to interact with each other with grace. So, let our conversations be filled with open-mindedness, conscientiousness, and above all, love.
You have heard it a million times: America has it rough right now. Living in Australia currently, I am not able to see the events with my own eyes. However, I can see how Australians and the people around me are reacting to what the media is portraying in America.
At the peak of America’s recent civil unrest, I woke up every morning to Australian teens, adults, and elders talking about how disgusting America is. Being an American, I was quick to both defend and criticize my nation. But, as I looked at the problem from a broader point of view, I realized something that frustrated me the most: the Australians’ lack of ownership for the oppression of the black lives on their shores.
Aboriginal Australians have faced many of the same things African Americans have: day to day racism, attempts at Europeanization, prejudice, and overall unfair treatments due to the color of their skin and their “history”. According to the Australian Law Reform Commission, despite Aboriginal Australians making up around 2% of the national population, they compose 27% of the national prison population (“Disproportionate rate” 1). Moreover, of every 1,000 Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islander people in 2016, 20 were incarcerated (“Disproportionate rate” 1). This reflects that, shockingly, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration rates increased 41% between 2006 and 2016” (“Disproportionate rate” 1). Yet this is just the start of the statistics that demonstrate the contentious regard for Aboriginal lives in Australia.
Unfortunately, the issue of accountability inhabits many cultures. Said plainly, it sucks that it had to take an uprising in another country for a separate nation to begin to realize their similar faults. Since Australia’s population is less dense and there are fewer people in Australia compared to America, some people say the percentages appear more drastic than they are. However, injustice and wrongdoing aren’t measured by how many people in a certain area there are, but on a person or a group of peoples’ experiences with inequity.
The data referenced above doesn’t occur without some sort of systemic racism in society. It would also be wise to say that employment, education, income, and health are all things that have the potential to impact peoples’ decisions to commit a crime. This combined with a justice system that is already prepared to target the minority sets up a toxic environment for Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islander individuals. This should be acknowledged. Never mind should; it must be acknowledged for the demarginalization of black lives.
In conclusion, Australia is not America, and I believe countries’ specific circumstances should be acknowledged. However, being a "non-American" is nothing to brag about. What is the point in facing a cultural and generational social issue that we all seem to have, alone? Conversations need to be had, problems need to be faced, and unity needs to ensue.
For more information on the Aboriginal culture, incarceration rates, and injustice, feel free to visit this excellent resource (linked): Indigenous incarceration: Unlock the facts
Works Cited
“Disproportionate Incarceration Rate.” Australian Law Reform Commission, 9 January 2018, https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/pathways-to-justice-inquiry-into-the-incarceration-rate-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-alrc-report-133/executive-summary-15/disproportionate-incarceration-rate/#:~:text=Although%20Aboriginal%20and%20Torres%20Strait,Strait%20Islander%20people%20were%20incarcerated.
