Deadly Unna Racism Analysis

Phillip Gwynne’s novel Deadly Unna is set in a small town on the Coast of South Australia, away from any city. In the novel there is the Port and the Point. The Goonyas (white Australians) hang out at the Port while the Nungas (aboriginal Australians) live at the Point. The two communities don’t get along to well because of racism that has been running on for decades. The protagonist, Blacky, starts to notice the discrimination against the Aboriginals after developing strong relationships with the Aboriginals. This is shown through his relationships with Dumby Red and Clarence as well as his stand against the town and the racism in it.

Blacky’s friendship with Dumby is extremely important when it comes to the progress of Blacky becoming more aware of the racism in the town. As Blacky becomes closer with Dumby and they start to hang out and they become good friends. In the beginning Blacky didn’t think much of it, as the aboriginals and the whites both played football together and to Blacky it was pretty normal to hang out with the Aboriginals. However when they had the award night for the football team that’s when Blacky realises that the aboriginals weren’t treated equally. Dumby is furious and so is Blacky, he says that Dumby deserved that trophy more than anyone and he was furious that the town cheered for someone who didn’t even

With Dumby’s support and friendship he was able to refrain from falling into the discrimination of aboriginals. With Clarence and her family Blacky was able to learn new things about the aboriginal community and become more educated thus being able to know what is true and what a lie is. All of these points show Blacky’s progress to becoming more enlightened and with that more courageous which he uses to stand for his beliefs and for Dumby and