[Poem] Aboriginal Charter of Rights

Aboriginal Charter of Rights
By: Oodgeroo Noonuccal

We want hope, not racialism,
Brotherhood, not ostracism,
Black advance, not white ascendance:
Make us equals, not dependants.
We need help, not exploitation,
We want freedom, not frustration;
Not control, but self-reliance,
Independence, not compliance,
Not rebuff, but education,
Self-respect, not resignation.
Free us from a mean subjection,
From a bureaucrat Protection.
Let's forget the old-time slavers:
Give us fellowship, not favours;
Encouragement, not prohibitions,
Homes, not settlements and missions.
We need love, not overlordship,
Grip of hand, not whip-hand wardship;
Opportunity that places
White and black on equal basis.
You dishearten, not defend us,
Circumscribe, who should befriend us.
Give us welcome, not aversion,
Give us choice, not cold coercion,
Status, not discrimination,
Human rights, not segregation.
You the law, like Roman Pontius,
Make us proud, not colour-conscious;
Give the deal you still deny us,
Give goodwill, not bigot bias;
Give ambition, not prevention,
Confidence, not condescension;
Give incentive, not restriction,
Give us Christ, not crucifixion.
Though baptized and blessed and Bibled
We are still tabooed and libelled.
You devout Salvation-sellers,
Make us neighbours, not fringe-dwellers;
Make us mates, not poor relations,
Citizens, not serfs on stations.
Must we native Old Australians
In our own land rank as aliens?
Banish bans and conquer caste,
Then we'll win our own at last.

Oodgeroo noonuccal uses many poetic techniques to express her feeling about the unfairness of the treatment to her people from the Australian population and Government these are proven through techniques that could be found in the quote “Make us neighbours, not fringe-dwellers; Make us mates, not poor relations, Citizens, not serfs on stations.” In this quote Noonuccal wants to demonstrate how hard it is to live as an Aboriginal in Australia. The reader is also positioned to believe that aboriginals are a valued part of the native Australian culture. This is shown in the following quote “Must we native Old Australians in our land rank as aliens?” This quote shows that even though aboriginals are a valued part of the Australian native culture they are still being discriminated and treated unfairly. The text can be read resistantly as it does involve two different cultures leading to different opinion, different point of views and misunderstanding. For instance, in the quote “Homes, not settlements and missions”, the white Australians thought that a way to help the Aboriginals is to give them a place to live in; however the Aboriginals were offended by this action. Not forgetting that Noonuncal is not representing all the Aboriginals point of view and this is just one of the reasons of how the conflict started. Many quotes have been used to show stereotype “Black advance, not while ascendance”; “Status, not discrimination”; “Make us proud, not colour- conscious” these quotes marginalize the Aboriginal as it shows how they are treatedless important than the white people. In this poem, Noonuccal uses many techniques that serve in positioning the reader to believe that Aboriginals are being marginalised and discriminated. 

This poem is basically about the problems and suffering of the Australian Aboriginal population under the control of the Australian government and political system. She describes the lack of equality and choices for aboriginals because of discrimination and prohibitions. The target for this poem is to make the Australian government and the Australian people to see the aboriginal side of the story and the author describes the lack of equality and choices for aboriginals because of discrimination to aboriginals. Because the cause of the suffering was their fault and they wanted them to see what it was like from their side of the story.