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The prejudice and misrepresentation of Aboriginal peoples in state and federal law has existed in Australia ever since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The American Civil Rights Movement (1955 – 1968) was lead by Martin Luther King and encouraged by the people. This significantly affected the Australian people in realising the inequality in their country. One man that was greatly influenced by the social leader in America was Charles Perkins, an Aboriginal activist that was a huge part of the civil rights movement in Australia. Aboriginal peoples now have the same rights, but still face many challenges to this day.
One of the most memorable events in US history was the Washington March, held on August 28, 1963, and consisted of around two hundred thousand people of all nationalities rallied in a protest defending those of colour and trying to bring attention to racism they faced every single day. This march encouraged activists to gain the courage to fight for equal rights, step by step. The march was lead by Martin Luther King, who presented his famous speech ‘I Have a Dream’, which referenced the inequality they face since the emancipation proclamation and demands for the debt of injustice paid. The emancipation proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln on the first of January, 1863 and stated that all slaves in the states that were engaged in rebellion against the union “shall be then, thenceforth, and forever freed.” Luther King’s speech brought American’s to realise the injustices the black persons have experienced, therefore causing change at an international level.
The Australian Civil Rights movement was influenced heavily by the American Civil Rights movement. The Freedom Rides (February 12, 1965) - inspired by the American Freedom Rides (1961) - was put together by a group of students from the University of Sydney, and was lead by Charles Perkins. This was also the start of the Australian Civil Rights movement. The Freedom Rides toured New South Wales’ country towns, exhibiting Australia’s racism to the entirety of the nation. ‘A Bastard Like Me’ written by Charles Perkins, stated that “it was also a reaction to what was being done in America at that time… [the students] all put their sixpence worth in, saying what should happen and what should not happen.”. It stated that the Freedom Rides were heavily influenced by Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement in America. The Australian Civil Rights movement would not have existed without the American Civil Rights movement.
Australia’s civil equality had a massive turning point when Charles Perkins lead the Freedom Rides in 1965, which brilliantly explored the racism Aboriginals faced outside the city limits. Charles Perkins and his team from the University of Sydney attempted to reach every TV screen in Australia and got large amounts of attention from both the news that they managed to get to broadcast their trip. The Freedom Ride showcased the racism that Aboriginals faced in every town where they were pushed around, discriminated against, could not mingle with everyone else, and showed their horrible living conditions. Freedom Rider Ann Cuthoy describes their living conditions as “had to use filthy water, tin shacks with mud floors, overcrowded.”. Australians were appalled by the footage, pressuring the Australian Government to make a change and help the Aboriginals.
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