Australia, we need to talk | Cally Jetta | TEDxPerth
Summary
TLDRThe speaker, a high school teacher with a decade of experience, addresses the audience with vulnerability about her nervousness and the challenges of discussing Aboriginal issues. She shares personal experiences of racism, the media's negative portrayal of Aboriginal Australians, and the strength of the community despite daily discrimination. She reflects on the reconciliation movement's flaws and the importance of acknowledging the past to move forward together. The speaker emphasizes the power of social media to share authentic Aboriginal stories, urging the audience to challenge racism and seek deeper understanding.
Takeaways
- 😨 The speaker feels nervous addressing adults despite being an experienced high school teacher, indicating the intimidating nature of discussing Aboriginal matters.
- 🤔 The speaker experiences a sense of insecurity and judgment when discussing Aboriginal issues, suggesting a broader societal bias.
- 😔 Racism is prevalent in everyday life, as illustrated by the contrasting treatment of the speaker's husband at a doctor's office.
- 💪 Aboriginal people are described as extremely strong, enduring constant demonization and stereotypes, highlighting their resilience.
- 😡 The speaker recounts personal experiences of racism, including derogatory names and jokes made in school, showing the deep-rooted nature of prejudice.
- 🏠 The speaker's husband's ancestors were victims of a massacre, a historical event that has been glossed over in favor of a more palatable narrative.
- 🤝 The reconciliation movement of the 90s is critiqued as flawed, suggesting that true harmony has never been achieved between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
- 📣 The 2008 apology to the Stolen Generations by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is acknowledged as significant but marred by a lack of understanding and support from some Australians.
- 👦 The speaker's son's interaction with a peer about being Aboriginal shows a positive shift in younger generations' attitudes.
- 🌐 The power of social media is recognized as a tool to share stories and perspectives, influencing change and fostering understanding.
- 📚 The speaker's work with at-risk teens and sharing their stories online has had a profound impact, demonstrating the importance of representation and support.
Q & A
What emotions does the speaker express at the beginning of the speech?
-The speaker expresses nervousness and intimidation at the thought of addressing a crowd of adults formally, despite having experience as a high school teacher.
What does the speaker feel when discussing Aboriginal-related matters?
-The speaker feels judged and insecure, as if they are being scrutinized and their knowledge is doubted by others.
Why does the speaker's husband face racism despite the speaker's knowledge in indigenous history, culture, and language?
-People often bypass the speaker and assume that her husband, who is visibly Aboriginal, is the expert, based on his appearance rather than the speaker's qualifications.
What was the speaker's husband's experience at the doctor's surgery?
-The receptionist treated the speaker's husband differently, asking him if he had a healthcare card and suggesting he should apply for one at Centrelink, which was not asked of the speaker.
How does the speaker describe the strength of Aboriginal people?
-The speaker describes Aboriginal people as extremely strong, enduring daily racial treatment that many on the outside are oblivious to.
What is the speaker's perspective on the media's portrayal of Aboriginal Australians?
-The speaker believes that Aboriginal Australians are constantly demonized in the media, often resented based on stereotypes and perceived benefits that do not exist.
What was the speaker's experience with racism during their school years?
-The speaker experienced racism in their private high school where peers made derogatory comments about Aboriginal people and the school was named after a historical figure with a negative history towards Aboriginal people.
What was the speaker's view on the reconciliation movement of the 90s?
-The speaker initially saw the reconciliation movement as positive but later recognized its flaws, such as being a government-funded campaign and the concept of reconciliation implying a return to a harmony that was never truly had.
How did the speaker feel about the apology issued by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the Stolen Generations?
-The speaker felt the apology was significant but was disheartened by the lack of support and compassion from others, including friends who considered it irrelevant and unnecessary.
What positive change has the speaker observed in their children's generation?
-The speaker's son was able to confidently explain his Aboriginal identity to a peer, showing that positive change is happening and that younger generations are more open and accepting.
What role does the speaker see for social media in promoting understanding and change?
-The speaker sees social media as a powerful tool to give voice to alternative perspectives and to reach more people with a fresh perspective on Aboriginal issues.
What is the speaker's message to the audience about combating racism and supporting Aboriginal people?
-The speaker urges the audience to challenge racism when they see it, not to believe stereotypes about Aboriginal people without investigating further, and to value and listen to Aboriginal voices.
Outlines
😨 Facing Racism and Insecurity
The speaker, a high school teacher with a decade of experience, expresses her nervousness about addressing adults formally on Aboriginal matters. She feels judged and insecure, especially when her Aboriginal husband is present, where others assume he is the expert despite her knowledge. The speaker recounts an incident of racism at a doctor's office, highlighting the daily struggles faced by Aboriginal Australians. She describes the media's role in perpetuating stereotypes and the personal impact of racism, including the fear of children growing up and realizing their second-class status in society.
🌱 Seeds of Reconciliation and Change
The speaker discusses the concept of reconciliation, questioning its feasibility given the lack of a pre-existing harmony between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. She reflects on the historical relationship marked by misunderstanding and lack of respect. The speaker mentions the 2008 apology to the Stolen Generations by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, expressing disappointment at the lack of support from some friends. She shares a personal story of her son's interaction with a peer, demonstrating a small but significant act of understanding and acceptance. The speaker emphasizes the importance of raising strong and resilient children and believes that positive change is already happening, as evidenced by the online community's response to her stories about at-risk teens.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aboriginal
💡Racism
💡Stereotypes
💡Reconciliation
💡Stolen Generations
💡Indigenous history
💡Cultural appropriation
💡Social media
💡At-risk teens
💡Resilience
💡Voice
Highlights
The speaker expresses nervousness about addressing adults formally despite being a high school teacher for ten years.
Feeling judged and insecure when speaking about Aboriginal matters, with imagined eye rolls and dismissive thoughts from the audience.
Experiencing frustration and awkwardness due to others assuming the speaker's Aboriginal husband is the expert on indigenous matters, despite her own knowledge.
The husband facing more overt racism, such as being treated differently at a doctor's office based on his Aboriginal background.
The constant demonization of Aboriginal people in the media and the resentment they face based on stereotypes and perceived benefits.
The personal impact of being scrutinized and having one's identity questioned by strangers in everyday situations.
The dread Aboriginal parents feel knowing their children will eventually realize they are perceived as second-class citizens.
Racist jokes and names directed at Aboriginal children in primary school, with little value placed on their contributions and culture.
The speaker's realization that her school was named after a man involved in a violent attack on Aboriginal people, which is often overlooked.
Reflections on the reconciliation movement of the 90s, questioning its effectiveness and the government's true intentions.
The idea that reconciliation implies a return to a pre-existing harmony that has never truly existed between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
The mixed reactions to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008, with some showing lack of support and understanding.
The importance of persisting for positive change despite encountering negative attitudes and resistance.
A personal story of the speaker's son confidently identifying as Aboriginal and educating others about his heritage.
The belief that positive change is already happening and will continue despite denial or resistance.
The speaker's work teaching an alternative program for at-risk teens and sharing their stories online to humanize Aboriginal youth.
The power of social media to give voice to alternative perspectives and the opportunity it presents for the speaker as an educator.
A call to action for the audience to challenge racism, look deeper into Aboriginal issues, and value Aboriginal voices.
The message that Aboriginal people do not need to 'get over it' but rather wait for non-Aboriginal Australians to catch up in understanding and respect.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Applause]
Kyah joker when your knee hello brothers
and sisters thank you very much for the
opportunity to address you all today I
can't deny that I'm extremely nervous
despite having been a high school
teacher for ten years and having stood
in front of literally thousands of
students in that time the thought of
getting up and addressing any crowd of
adults formally is still very
intimidating I feel a judgemental glare
when I speak about Aboriginal related
matters it shakes my confidence and my
focus I can see the eye rolls in the
disinterest and I imagine the thoughts
and words around me in the room here we
go again more special attention for the
Aboriginal kids they get so much already
look at her what would she know she's as
wide as I am some might say it's all in
my mind and perhaps in some cases it is
but there is a reason that that seed of
insecurity has been planted in my mind
my husband is dark schemes and obviously
Aboriginal and gorgeous
and despite my thorough knowledge in
indigenous history culture and language
most people will bypass straight by me
and assume he's the expert that can be
rather frustrating for me and very
awkward for him his experiences of
racism though are far more hurtful and
blatant quite recently we went to the
doctor's surgery for separate
appointments we ended up in a line
together afterwards to pay the
receptionist greeted me warmly and with
a nice smile will you be paying by cash
or card today she asked me I paid my
bill and I stepped aside to wait for
hubby I watched as the receptionist
whole demeanor changed there was nice
smile there was no pleasant greeting
have you got your healthcare card there
she asked him when he replied that he
did not have one she responded
impatiently with why haven't you been
down to Centrelink to apply for one year
it's not an isolated incident and it
takes a strong person to endure that
type of treatment day in and day out
most Aboriginal people are extremely
strong though so strong in fact that
many on the outside are completely
oblivious to what it means on a personal
level to be an Aboriginal Australian how
it feels to be constantly demonized in
the media to be resented on the basis of
primitive and criminal stereotypes that
just won't go away and all types of
outlandish benefits that simply don't
exist how it feels to be scrutinized
every time you walk into a store to have
your credibility measured and your
identity determined by complete
strangers as being authentic real fake
half-caste full-blood many people can't
relate to the dread that they would feel
as a parent knowing that sooner or later
their child will reach the age where
they come to understand that they are
perceived as a second-class citizen by
many of their fellow Australians when we
read graffiti on the toilet walls or we
cop it in the playground the weight of
those words
creates new wounds and it keeps old
wounds open in primary school Aboriginal
children with the butt of racist jokes
and names people resented standing
extras in the liner they didn't want to
hold hands comments about being smelly
and dirty were often made in my private
high school my peers thought nothing of
referring to Aboriginal people as bulls
elbows and Coons there was very little
value and placed on Aboriginal
contributions and content I later
realized that the school was named after
Fredrick Ellen an aggressive and cruel
man who preempted the pin jerem a seeker
of 1834 25 armed gunmen on horseback
gunned down men women and children my
husband's ancestors in the river
crossing this has been brushed aside to
make way for a nicer story about a noble
pioneer a very common story in our
country I can remember the
reconciliation movement of the 90s being
a big deal in theory it sounded really
positive making amends between
Aboriginal and non-aboriginal
Australians it wasn't until later that I
could see the flaws it was just another
government-funded campaign aimed at
securing votes above all else the
political parties grew tired and they
moved along
the biggest flaw though was the whole
concept of reconciliation to reconcile
implies a return to some pre-existing
harmony or equal footing how can we
possibly return to something that we
have never truly had or known when you
really think about it in the past 230
years of our country's turbulent history
the first Australians and those who came
after have never shared a relationship
based on mutual understanding compassion
and respect that is still yet to come
in 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued
the apology to the Stolen Generations it
was such a significant day for many
myself included but it was tainted and I
was dumbfounded as a lack of support and
compassion people just didn't get it
even people that were considered friends
that I thought would know better
I heard them grumbling about it being
irrelevant unnecessary overdramatic even
it can be so hard to feel like positive
changes happening when you're exposed to
attitudes such as that but we must
persist it is our future last month I
was supervising my boys playing in the
neighborhood park my heart sank a little
when I heard another child asked my
eldest if he was in a boy I felt
relieved and proud when my son responded
with knowing I'm known when the other
boy questioned what this meant
my son explained that it was an
Aboriginal person from the southwest
region the other boy was satisfied with
this they then asked to play a game of
chasey and off they went I comfort
myself knowing that one I cannot shelter
my my son's my children from the racism
that exists out there
I can certainly raise them to be strong
and resilient in the face of it so I
believe that a positive change is coming
in fact I believe it's here already and
that no matter of denial or resistance
will stop it when it reaches its full
momentum I simply have to believe that
for my kids for our kids at the
beginning of this year I started
teaching an alternative program for
at-risk teens and I started sharing most
teacher logs and stories online I shed
stories about my students lives their
feelings hopes dreams and challenges as
young Aboriginal people and the response
from the online community was
overwhelming one young man in particular
captured the hearts of so many at 14
years old Bevin has no stable home or
guardian he hops from couch to couch I
was included an angry and neglected
young man he's grown up void of any sort
of childhood innocence surrounded by
drugs alcohol crime and violence but he
has a link to something better now
something greater
through the bfr community he reads what
I write online and he's read the
thousands of comments from Australians
all over the country showing him support
compassion and true encouragement it has
begun to thaw the hate and the anger in
his heart and he is growing in
compassion and tolerance himself when I
discovered the power of social media to
bring voice to alternative perspectives
I saw the most incredible opportunity to
combine my greatest passions and my
strengths as an educator to reach more
people with a fresh perspective
Aboriginal people do not need to get
over it we do not need to move on from
the past we are waiting for you to fill
in the gaps and catch up so that
together we can all finally move on from
the same page of the same book you might
be wondering what can I do and I tell
you that the answer is plenty there are
many things that you can do to be a
positive force for change every single
day I ask you when you see racism don't
turn the other cheek challenge it
head-on I ask you not to believe so
readily what you hear and read about
Aboriginal people but to look a little
deeper for yourself I ask you to
consider how very important it is to our
people's entire well-being that our
voices are heard and valued please every
single one of you I ask you to take this
idea home with you today don't leave it
at the door take it home with you and
help me to grow it younger and border
thank you
[Applause]
[Music]
Oh
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