My People

my people Oodgeroo's writing has a unique place in Australian literature. When her poetry was first published in the 1960s, Kath Walker, as she was known then, provided a brave new voice for marginalised Aboriginal Australians. For the first time, an Aboriginal Australian was analysing and judging white Australians as well as her own people. She often made provocative and passionate pleas for justice:

We want hope, not racialism,
Brotherhood, not ostracism,
Black advance, not white ascendance:
Make us equals, not dependants.

This collection of poetry and prose is a reminder of Oodgeroo's contribution to Indigenous culture and the journey toward reconciliation. All Australians should be proud of this poet who dedicated her life to her people and her land.

Auteur

Author, poet and illustrator Oodgeroo, of the tribe Noonuccal, was born in 1920 on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland. Formerly known as Kath Walker, she lived and worked for most of her life, working tirelessly on behalf of Aboriginal people. She died in 1993.

Texte du rabat

Oodgeroo's writing has a unique place in Australian literature. When her poetry was first published in the 1960s, Kath Walker, as she was known then, provided a brave new voice for marginalised Aboriginal Australians. For the first time, an Aboriginal Australian was analysing and judging white Australians as well as her own people. She often made provocative and passionate pleas for justice:

We want hope, not racialism,
Brotherhood, not ostracism,
Black advance, not white ascendance:
Make us equals, not dependants. This collection of poetry and prose is a reminder of Oodgeroo's contribution to Indigenous culture and the journey toward reconciliation. All Australians should be proud of this poet who dedicated her life to her people and her land.

Contenu
All One Race 1

Let Us Not Be Bitter 2

An Appeal 3

The Curlew Cried 5

Sounds Assail Me 6

Tree Grave 7

Dawn Wail for the Dead 8

Dark Unmarried Mothers 9

Not My Style 11

Last of His Tribe 12

The Child Wife 13

The Young Girl Wanda 14

Whynot Street 16

White Australia 17

Acacia Ridge 18

The Unhappy Race 19

Corroboree 20

Stone Age 21

Assimilation No! 22

Integration Yes! 23

The Teachers 24

Ballad of Totems 25

White Man, Dark Man 27

The Protectors 28

Intolerance 29

Bwalla the Hunter 30

No More Boomerang 32

Bora 35

Nona 37

The Food Gatherers 38

Aboriginal Charter of Rights 39

Gifts 41

Spinners 42

A Song of Hope 43

The Woor Woman 45

The Dawn Is at Hand 47

Municipal Gum 49

My Love 50

Colour Bar 51

Tribal Justice 52

Artist Son 54

Son of Mine 55

Dead Life 56

? 57

Jarri's Love Song 58

Community Rain Song 60

Namatjira 66

The Dispossessed 67

Interlude 68

The Bunyip 71

Understand, Old One 72

Gooboora, the Silent Pool 74

We Are Going 76

Cookalingee 77

United We Win 79

Song 80

God's One Mistake 81

Verses 82

Civilisation 84

Biami 86

Freedom 87

Return to Nature 88

Hope 89

Racism 90

I Am Proud 91

Then and Now 92

Daisy Bindi 93

The Past 95

Time Is Running Out 96

Balance 97

China ... Woman 98

Reed Flute Cave 99

Oh Trugganner! 101

Kiltara-Biljara* (Eagle Hawk) 104

Mongarlowe 106

Leave Straddie Unabridged 107

Custodians of the Land 108

Glossary 123

Biography 127