The native Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia had, since western settlement in 1788, been dispossessed of their natural freedoms and rights. Centuries later, by 1954, the law still discriminated against the indigenous, inhibiting their civil liberties; however, many improvements have occurred which substantially bettered the standards of life as present.
Originally, Aborigines were considered savages and fell under the Flora and Fauna Act, but through the reconciliation movement and advocation of rights Aborigines are now recognised as Australia’s first peoples and citizens of the commonwealth. The civil right campaigns, which significantly impacted the referendum, were conducted by some of the first Aboriginals to …show more content…
The Indigenous had been deprived of civil liberties for a long time, and it was only in the late 1950’s, guided by the American Civil Rights Campaigns, that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists approached campaigning in an organised way. Mirroring the United States, activist gathered together for the Freedom Ride of 1965, which brought specific attention to the atrocious living conditions endured by the Aboriginal people, and how they routinely were banned from public facilities, shops and businesses (Freedom Ride, 1965). The Freedom Ride’s intention had been to reduce the social obstacles between races, and goad Aborigines in defending themselves from discriminatory attacks. Later in the 1960’s, the civil rights campaigns proceeded in hopes of including natives in social service benefits, such as old age pension and unemployment benefits. It had been the civil rights campaigns from the 1950’s and onwards, that resulted in the changed approach against racial issues. The government had not permitted any of the Indigenous peoples to be uninfluenced by the legislation that was implemented country-wide. The extremity reflected white society’s perception of native Australians, particularly from the 1950’s and earlier, which in turn influenced the perception of how the indigenous were treated. The success of the campaigns, but especially the Freedom Ride, can be attributed to Charles Perkins: advocator and publicist of the Aboriginal cause. He had become a national spokesman, exposing the endemic discrimination through the consistent media coverage and bringing it to the nation’s scrutiny. Perkins propelled the civil rights campaigns and public urgency to better the indigenous rights and freedoms greatly. His efforts, alongside the change in how
Originally, Aborigines were considered savages and fell under the Flora and Fauna Act, but through the reconciliation movement and advocation of rights Aborigines are now recognised as Australia’s first peoples and citizens of the commonwealth. The civil right campaigns, which significantly impacted the referendum, were conducted by some of the first Aboriginals to …show more content…
The Indigenous had been deprived of civil liberties for a long time, and it was only in the late 1950’s, guided by the American Civil Rights Campaigns, that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists approached campaigning in an organised way. Mirroring the United States, activist gathered together for the Freedom Ride of 1965, which brought specific attention to the atrocious living conditions endured by the Aboriginal people, and how they routinely were banned from public facilities, shops and businesses (Freedom Ride, 1965). The Freedom Ride’s intention had been to reduce the social obstacles between races, and goad Aborigines in defending themselves from discriminatory attacks. Later in the 1960’s, the civil rights campaigns proceeded in hopes of including natives in social service benefits, such as old age pension and unemployment benefits. It had been the civil rights campaigns from the 1950’s and onwards, that resulted in the changed approach against racial issues. The government had not permitted any of the Indigenous peoples to be uninfluenced by the legislation that was implemented country-wide. The extremity reflected white society’s perception of native Australians, particularly from the 1950’s and earlier, which in turn influenced the perception of how the indigenous were treated. The success of the campaigns, but especially the Freedom Ride, can be attributed to Charles Perkins: advocator and publicist of the Aboriginal cause. He had become a national spokesman, exposing the endemic discrimination through the consistent media coverage and bringing it to the nation’s scrutiny. Perkins propelled the civil rights campaigns and public urgency to better the indigenous rights and freedoms greatly. His efforts, alongside the change in how