I think it's somewhat a matter of random luck that George Floyd's death got as big as it did. Ahmaud Arbery's death didn't gain this much traction just over two weeks before Floyd's, and national...
I think it's somewhat a matter of random luck that George Floyd's death got as big as it did. Ahmaud Arbery's death didn't gain this much traction just over two weeks before Floyd's, and national conditions were more or less the same at the time, and neither death is any less bad than the other, and was no less brutal.
A major difference between African Americans and Australian Aborigines is, as the article states, is the ability to amplify these incidents. For better or worse, American culture is the major dominant culture of the internet, and I'd wager many people around the world have heard of our higher profile cases, while this is, actually, the first I've ever seen about Aboriginal detention rates in Australia (not that I doubted it, I've heard that Australia has its own race issues concerning Aborigines). The celebrity factor is also huge.
I don't think it's luck. The major difference with George Floyd's death is that it every agonising second was videoed, and it was very obviously deliberate. The world listened and watched as that...
I think it's somewhat a matter of random luck that George Floyd's death got as big as it did.
I don't think it's luck. The major difference with George Floyd's death is that it every agonising second was videoed, and it was very obviously deliberate. The world listened and watched as that man was slowly, deliberately - and almost casually murdered.
Other recent deaths such as Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor caused a lot of anger and built up momentum, but that image of a knee to the neck is just so horrific - it's no wonder that it was the breaking point.
Regarding Aboriginal Australians, I think there are more differences than the article points out. For one - to a certain extent, Australian Aborigines lack the unified identity of Black Americans. The relatively small population is pointed out in the article, and amongst that population there are are over 250 different aboriginal languages, at least that many distinct cultures, and many aboriginal people don't look alike (many look white). A lot of the popularised "aboriginal" culture is not universal - eg. boomerangs and didgeridoo were only used in certain areas. Aboriginal people have also lost a lot of cultural identity thanks to a deliberate campaign by white Australian governments to wipe it out (eg. taking children away from their families and their land).
Another issue is, I think, a general feeling of hopelessness amongst Aboriginal people. The suicide rate - particularly among young males - is horrific. 95% of Aboriginal people have been impacted by suicide. Activism isn't an option for people who are struggling just to survive, and white interventions often cause more harm than good.
I think it's somewhat a matter of random luck that George Floyd's death got as big as it did. Ahmaud Arbery's death didn't gain this much traction just over two weeks before Floyd's, and national conditions were more or less the same at the time, and neither death is any less bad than the other, and was no less brutal.
A major difference between African Americans and Australian Aborigines is, as the article states, is the ability to amplify these incidents. For better or worse, American culture is the major dominant culture of the internet, and I'd wager many people around the world have heard of our higher profile cases, while this is, actually, the first I've ever seen about Aboriginal detention rates in Australia (not that I doubted it, I've heard that Australia has its own race issues concerning Aborigines). The celebrity factor is also huge.
I don't think it's luck. The major difference with George Floyd's death is that it every agonising second was videoed, and it was very obviously deliberate. The world listened and watched as that man was slowly, deliberately - and almost casually murdered.
Other recent deaths such as Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor caused a lot of anger and built up momentum, but that image of a knee to the neck is just so horrific - it's no wonder that it was the breaking point.
Regarding Aboriginal Australians, I think there are more differences than the article points out. For one - to a certain extent, Australian Aborigines lack the unified identity of Black Americans. The relatively small population is pointed out in the article, and amongst that population there are are over 250 different aboriginal languages, at least that many distinct cultures, and many aboriginal people don't look alike (many look white). A lot of the popularised "aboriginal" culture is not universal - eg. boomerangs and didgeridoo were only used in certain areas. Aboriginal people have also lost a lot of cultural identity thanks to a deliberate campaign by white Australian governments to wipe it out (eg. taking children away from their families and their land).
Another issue is, I think, a general feeling of hopelessness amongst Aboriginal people. The suicide rate - particularly among young males - is horrific. 95% of Aboriginal people have been impacted by suicide. Activism isn't an option for people who are struggling just to survive, and white interventions often cause more harm than good.