The 1965 Freedom Ride exhibition introduced to many the Students Actions for Aboriginals organizations and explained how students from the University of Sydney drew national and international attention to the poor living conditions of Aboriginal people and the racism that was rife in New South Wale country towns from 12-26 February 1965. This event marked the beginning of resetting the relationships between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia. Aboriginal people weren’t counted as citizens and they faced a lot of discrimination. But Charles Perkins wanted to change that. He was the first Aboriginal person to graduate from university. He was also a big fan of American civil rights activist Martin Luther King. So, inspired by events King championed in US, Charles organised a …show more content…
campaign he hoped would help. On the night of 12 February 1965 Perkins and 29 other students set off in a hired bus to raise awareness about Aboriginal issues and rights. They departed from Sydney that night to reach Wellington on the 13th. All the places the group travelled to, they encountered racism. They tried their best to protest and remove segregation from public places such as local pools and cafes. They faced many problems and some were even beaten up. Typical reactions to the protests was the throwing of rotten eggs, tomatoes, and bottles at the Freedom Riders. The reactions from the Aboriginal people were different. When the Freedom Riders first began their protests, the Aboriginal members of the community were confused as to what their motives were, but after seeing their determination, they also extended a hand, and supported them in their protest. The Freedom Ride aimed to bring attention to the poor state of Aboriginal health, education and housing.
This led to planning of a fact-facing trip to Western New South Wales towns so students could see for themselves the conditions of life for Aboriginal People. The students had formed into a body called Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA) in 1964 to plan this trip and ensure media coverage. This group including Charles Perkins, one of the two only Aboriginal students at the University at the time. He was a third year arts students and he was then elected as president of SAFA. The students ensured their protests were covered by the media, bringing the issue of racial discrimination to national and international press attention, and stirring public debate about the disadvantages and racism facing Aboriginal people across Australia at the time. At a time when racism was seen by many Australians as issues experienced by other countries such as South Africa or the southern states of the USA, University of Sydney Students decided to awaken the community to the reality of Australia’s racism and conditions of life for Aboriginal people in country New South
Wales. During the early 1960’s in America, the fight for civil rights were excelling. With these events such as: The freedom bus rides, the march on Washington, Brown vs. Board of education and the murder of Emmett till, as well as leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X and President John F Kennedy – as well as banishing racism and equality. In the spring of 1961, a group of black and white college students began a trip around the USA from Washington D.C. to Jackson Mississippi, to challenge racial segregation faced in America at the time. In 1946 the U.S. Supreme Court banned segregation in interstate bus travel. A year later the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation tested the ruling by staging the Journey of Reconciliation, on which an interracial group of activists rode together on a bus through the upper South, though fearful of journeying to the Deep South. Convinced that segregationists in the South would violently protest this exercise of their constitutional right, the Freedom Riders hoped to provoke the federal government into enforcing the Boynton decision. The Freedom Riders encountered violence in South Carolina, but in Alabama the reaction was much more severe. At the behest of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, secured a bus and protection from the State Highway Patrol as they travelled to Montgomery, where, when local police failed to protect them, they were again beaten. Thereafter National Guard support was provided when 27 Freedom Riders continued on to Jackson, Mississippi, only to be arrested and jailed. On May 29 Kennedy ordered the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce even stricter guidelines banning segregation in interstate travel. Still, Freedom Riders continued to travel by public transportation in the South until that dictate took effect in September. The title Freedom Ride inspired the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement who worked against racial discrimination. Charles Perkins was the first Aboriginal person to graduate from university. He was also a big fan of American civil rights activist Martin Luther King. So, inspired by events King championed in US, Charles organised a campaign he hoped would help. The media played an important role in the Freedom Ride as it was the only way to make the SAFA’s efforts known nationally and internationally. The student body had constant media coverage, which gained them publicity not only throughout Australia but internationally as well. This helped the SAFA in arousing awareness about the situation of Indigenous Australians. They gained a good bit of publicity during their protest in Walgett, as a reporter from the Herald was also present there at the time and he was able to take some photos of them and their protest. They were successful in bringing attention to the poor state of the Aboriginal people, mostly due to the media attention they gained. Two years after the media coverage they gained in Walgett, in the national referendum of 1967, the Australian people voted overwhelmingly in favour of removing individual state control over the way Indigenous people were governed and treated. There was a 90.77% yes vote for the Aborigines and this eventually led to many needed reforms at federal level. Another outcome they accomplished was decreasing the social gap and discriminatory barriers between Aborigines and white people. In the end of their ride, the Freedom Riders had successfully stirred up the debate on the state of the Aboriginal affairs round Australia. With this came pressure from outside and within Australia to reform, and this debate was maintained for the 1967 referendum mentioned above. The Freedom Rides have also been credited with helping end the ‘White Australia’ policy.
The 1964 Australian Freedom Rides were conducted by Sydney University students who were a part of a group called Student Action for Aboriginals (SAFA), led by none other than Charles Perkins— a man who would be the first Australian Aboriginal University graduate and was, at the time, a passionate third year arts student when he was elected leader of the SAFA.— Despite the name, the freedom rides took place on the 12th of February in 1965, the 1964 title refers to when SAFA banded together to organise the rides and insure sufficient media coverage was had. The students’ aim was to draw attention to the poor health, education, and housing that the Aborigines had, to point out and deteriorate the social discrimination barriers that existed between the ‘whites’ and Aborigines, and to support and encourage Aborigines to resi...
This presentation is about Charles Perkins, an Australian Aboriginal Activist. This presentation will outline who he is, why he promoted change, his roles, the outcomes of his actions and the people who benefited from his actions. This presentation focuses on Charles Perkins actions gaining rights and freedoms for Australian Aboriginals, mainly focusing on the freedom ride. Australian Aboriginal activist, Charles Perkins, had a significant impact and effect on the rights and freedoms of Indigenous Australians mainly in NSW but also Australian wide from 1963 to 1972 through organising the freedom riders and participating in other organisations and activities for Australian Aboriginals. Charles Perkins has done many things to help in the fight for rights and freedom for Australian Aboriginals. One of the main things he did was organise and lead the freedom ride in 1965. There were various reasons as to why Charles Perkins promoted change, but that fact that he experienced the discrimination and poor treatment of Aboriginals first hand definitely made his motives stronger. He had many roles in the fight for rights and freedom for Aboriginals, but one of his main positions was co-organising and leading the freedom ride in 1965. The main outcomes of his actions, was he helped gain rights and freedom for the Indigenous Australians.
This presentation is about Charles Perkins, an Australian Aboriginal Activist. This presentation will outline who he is, why he promoted change, his roles, the outcomes of his actions and the people who benefited from his actions. This presentation focuses on Charles Perkins actions gaining rights and freedoms for Australian Aboriginals, mainly focusing on the freedom ride. Australian Aboriginal activist, Charles Perkins, had a significant impact and effect on the rights and freedoms of Indigenous Australians mainly in NSW but also Australian wide from 1963 to 1972 through organising the freedom riders and participating in other organisations and activities for Australian Aboriginals. Charles Perkins has done many things to help in the fight for rights and freedom for Australian Aboriginals. One of the main things he did was organise and lead the freedom ride in 1965. There were various reasons as to why Charles Perkins p...
The Freedom ride of Australia occurred on February 12th 1965, led by Charlie Perkins. 29 members of the student action for aborigines group departed the university of sydney by bus bound for regional towns across New South Wales. Students wanted to shine spotlight on racism and the poor state of Aboriginal health, education and housing. The Australian freedom ride was able to achieve all their pivotal outcomes, mostly due
Throughout the world, in history and in present day, injustice has affected all of us. Whether it is racial, sexist, discriminatory, being left disadvantaged or worse, injustice surrounds us. Australia is a country that has been plagued by injustice since the day our British ancestors first set foot on Australian soil and claimed the land as theirs. We’ve killed off many of the Indigenous Aboriginal people, and also took Aboriginal children away from their families; this is known as the stolen generation. On the day Australia became a federation in 1901, the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton, created the White Australia Policy. This only let people of white skin colour migrate to the country. Even though Australia was the first country to let women vote, women didn’t stand in Parliament until 1943 as many of us didn’t support female candidates, this was 40 years after they passed the law in Australian Parliament for women to stand in elections. After the events of World War Two, we have made an effort to make a stop to these issues here in Australia.
Of the confrontations, the first one encountered by the Freedom Riders was in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was here that Joseph Perkins was arrested for attempting to get his shoes polished in a whites’-only shoeshine chair. After choosing no bail, Perkins spent two nights in jail. However, this was nothing for Perkins, who had spent two years in the army and engaged in other civil rights movements. After leaving the military, Perkins joined in on the lunch sit-ins to end counter segregation. Because of his great accomplishments and bravery, the CORE thought he would be a positive addition to the group; therefore, they asked him to join in August of 1960...
The reason for this report was to explain the steps that were taken to create and implement this action plan and the outcomes. My three actions were established to help carry out my vision of bringing together the two sides by creating equality and harmony. First I wanted to create a better understanding of Aboriginal history, culture and their people within my family and friendship groups. I tackled this by talking not only in-person but also over social media about the past struggles of Aboriginal people and reduce the stigma and misconceptions that surround Aboriginal people. The second action was to restore trust between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians by involving friends and family in public and activities and events that are related to learning more about what gaps need closing and coming together. My third action plan was to eradicate racism and as a way to contribute to this cause long term, I signed up to be a Constitutional Recognition Campaigner through ANTAR. As this campaign is about changing the Australian constitution to include Aboriginal people and also to remove sections that have to power to stop Aboriginal people from voting and sections that give the Australian governmen...
The Australian Freedom Riders consisted of thirty students that attended the University of Sydney. These students had heard about the American Freedom Riders and it sparked inspiration amongst them to make a difference within the Australian community. The whole idea of their trip was to help get rid of the socially discriminatory barriers which was standing up between indigenous and non-indigenous people, they had planned on bringing attention to the bad state of aboriginal heath, education and housing and finally they also wanted to encourage the aboriginals to stand up for themselves against discrimination. Charles Perkins a man born in Alice Springs and a third year arts student at the University of Sydney said ‘The whole freedom riders idea was not for white people on my mind, it’s for aboriginal people to realise second class isn't good enough, you don't always have to be first class but don't always be second class’ . The trip was planned...
When the students were at Walgett, they stood in front of the Returned Services League (RSL Club) and demonstrated against racial discrimination that they had practised. The SAFA not only demonstrated their practices of racial discrimination against Aboriginal people, but ensured that they got extensive media coverage so that the whole of Australia can see what is going in these rural country towns of western New South Wales, hence raising awareness amongst people in Australia. At the time, the media had gone crazy with all of the headlines regarding the Aboriginal discrimination in western NSW. It had exposed an endemic racism in Australia at that time. After all the terrible things that have been done against Aboriginal people, the news coverage had also said, with ignorance, that racism did not exist in
Success was a big part of the Civil Rights Movement. Starting with the year 1954, there were some major victories in favor of African Americans. In 1954, the landmark trial Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas ruled that segregation in public education was unfair. This unanimous Supreme Court decision overturned the prior Plessy vs. Ferguson case during which the “separate but equal” doctrine was created and abused. One year later, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. launched a bus boycott in Montgomery Alabama after Ms. Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat in the “colored section”. This boycott, which lasted more than a year, led to the desegregation of buses in 1956. Group efforts greatly contributed to the success of the movement. This is not only shown by the successful nature of the bus boycott, but it is shown through the success of Martin Luther King’s SCLC or Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The conference was notable for peacefully protesting, nonviolence, and civil disobedience. Thanks to the SCLC, sit-ins and boycotts became popular during this time, adding to the movement’s accomplishments. The effective nature of the sit-in was shown during 1960 when a group of four black college students sat down at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in hopes of being served. While they were not served the first time they commenced their sit-in, they were not forced to leave the establishment; their lack of response to the heckling...
Indigenous Australian land rights have sparked controversy between Non Indigenous and Indigenous Australians throughout history. The struggle to determine who the rightful owners of the land are is still largely controversial throughout Australia today. Indigenous Australian land rights however, go deeper than simply owning the land as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have established an innate spiritual connection making them one with the land. The emphasis of this essay is to determine how Indigenous Australian land rights have impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, highlighting land rights regarding the Mabo v. the State of Queensland case and the importance behind today’s teachers understanding and including Indigenous
One hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation was written, African Americans were still fighting for equal rights in every day life. The first real success of this movement did not come until the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954 which was followed by many boycotts and protests. The largest of these protests, the March on Washington, was held on August 28, 1963 “for jobs and freedom” (March on Washington 11). An incredible amount of preparation went into the event to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people attending from around the nation and to deal with any potential incidents.
The Civil Rights Movement began in order to bring equal rights and equal voting rights to black citizens of the US. This was accomplished through persistent demonstrations, one of these being the Selma-Montgomery March. This march, lead by Martin Luther King Jr., targeted at the disenfranchisement of negroes in Alabama due to the literacy tests. Tension from the governor and state troopers of Alabama led the state, and the whole nation, to be caught in the violent chaos caused by protests and riots by marchers. However, this did not prevent the March from Selma to Montgomery to accomplish its goals abolishing the literacy tests and allowing black citizens the right to vote.
Since the time of federation the Aboriginal people have been fighting for their rights through protests, strikes and the notorious ‘day of mourning’. However, over the last century the Australian federal government has generated policies which manage and restrained that of the Aboriginal people’s rights, citizenships and general protection. The Australian government policy that has had the most significant impact on indigenous Australians is the assimilation policy. The reasons behind this include the influences that the stolen generation has had on the indigenous Australians, their relegated rights and their entitlement to vote and the impact that the policy has had on the indigenous people of Australia.
Montgomery Bus Boycotts: Role of Women in the Civil Rights Movement. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's, women played an undeniably significant role in forging the path against discrimination and oppression. Rosa Parks and Jo Ann Robinson were individual women whose efforts deserve recognition for instigating and coordinating the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycotts that would lay precedent for years to come that all people deserve equal treatment despite the color of their skin. The WPC, NAACP, and the Montgomery Churches provided the channels to organize the black public into a group that could not be ignored as well supported the black community throughout the difficult time of the boycott.