Kath Walker's Aboriginal Character of Rights
The manner in which Walkerexpresses her views in the poem is
reflective of her background, experience and knowledge. Given that
Walk was removed from her family at a young age and made to assimilate
with white society, she is able to present an unbiased view of the
issue at hand, that is, the needs of the "native old Australians" to
no longer be "rank(ed) as aliens" in what was once their own land.
Walkermakes a social commentary that dwells upon various social issues
concerning specifically the rights and needs of the Aboriginal
community. She voices a general concern regarding equality on behalf
of her people. Emerging from the principle theme of equality are the
basic and life-altering needs that the Aborigines call for. The most
basic needs are also courteous deeds. Aborigines are longing for
"help" in times of assistance, to be "welcome(d)" and to have a
"choice" in life.
A need for an end to stereotyping and racial prejudice is expressed in
the use of wording chosen by Walker. She articulates her anger towards
defamation directed at the Aboriginal community. Walker feels the
strong need for white society to stop "libelling" and defaming
Aborigines as "fringe-dweller" that reside within "missions"
"Aboriginal Character of Rights" encompasses Walkers innermost hopes,
thoughts and emotions - all of which reflect upon the unjustly
treatment of the Indigenous people throughout history. Walker presents
a social commentary through poetry that comprehensively reviews the
common rights of all Aboriginal people. She openly comments on her
people's status within society and relentles...
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...t the audience may interpret the issues at hand
without any limitations.
This similar sense of desperate longing for more is also evident in
line 24 "Give us choice, not coercion" To give is to provide, as
provide is to give. In directing the appeal towards the reader, it is
assumed that the whites have the ability to 'give' the Aboriginals a
realism of freedom. To liberate their oppressed race by freeing them
from the restrictions they feel within their lives. They have the
desire to be more and in order to be ambitious and live more; they
need to have their burden lifted.
In closing, Walkeris successful in conveying her message of hope for
equality. In using various written language devices, Walkeris able to
effectively make a social commentary on the rights of Aboriginals
through the literary form of poetry.
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