Inspiration and comparison to civil rights in Australia
The efforts of the Black Panther Party during the mid-20th century was extremely influential and sparked an increase in awareness of racial discrimination and the treatment of minority groups all over the world. In particular, Indigenous Australian civil rights became a more prominent issue as activists began to grow impatient with the lack of progress in the rights and treatment of Aborigines. Australian Aboriginal civil rights in the late 20th century was inspired by many different American activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Huey P. Newton, and many of the methods and ideas introduced by these activists were adapted by Australians following their success in America. Despite this, Australian activists generally took a more passive approach to spreading their message, often involving students holding peaceful protests, participating in sit-ins and starting petitions to in order to urge the government to make changes to the protection, treatment and rights of Indigenous Australians.
Although Huey P. Newton’s Marxist, military methods of fighting for civil rights did not appeal to most other Australian activists, the values upheld by the Black Panther Party did inspire many Australian civil rights groups to strive for goals such as:
During the height of the American Black Panther Party in the late 1960s, international support groups could be found all over the world and a few activists in Australia saw this as a sign to protest in a more radical approach. Prior to this, most Aboriginal civil rights groups such as the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Federal Council for the Aboriginal Advancement practiced passive, non-violent methods of protesting similar to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. This is because these activists saw the damage and bloodshed caused by the Black Power riots in America and did not believe that it was the best way to fight for civil rights. The most common methods carried out by Australian activists include:
The efforts of the Black Panther Party during the mid-20th century was extremely influential and sparked an increase in awareness of racial discrimination and the treatment of minority groups all over the world. In particular, Indigenous Australian civil rights became a more prominent issue as activists began to grow impatient with the lack of progress in the rights and treatment of Aborigines. Australian Aboriginal civil rights in the late 20th century was inspired by many different American activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Huey P. Newton, and many of the methods and ideas introduced by these activists were adapted by Australians following their success in America. Despite this, Australian activists generally took a more passive approach to spreading their message, often involving students holding peaceful protests, participating in sit-ins and starting petitions to in order to urge the government to make changes to the protection, treatment and rights of Indigenous Australians.
Although Huey P. Newton’s Marxist, military methods of fighting for civil rights did not appeal to most other Australian activists, the values upheld by the Black Panther Party did inspire many Australian civil rights groups to strive for goals such as:
- Self-determination: the right for Indigenous Australians to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural status
- Remove segregation in town facilities such as restaurants, restrooms, pools, theatres and buses and schools
- Provide social services for disadvantaged Indigenous people such as healthcare, food and education programs
During the height of the American Black Panther Party in the late 1960s, international support groups could be found all over the world and a few activists in Australia saw this as a sign to protest in a more radical approach. Prior to this, most Aboriginal civil rights groups such as the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Federal Council for the Aboriginal Advancement practiced passive, non-violent methods of protesting similar to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. This is because these activists saw the damage and bloodshed caused by the Black Power riots in America and did not believe that it was the best way to fight for civil rights. The most common methods carried out by Australian activists include:
- Petitions - e.g. Faith Bandler and Jessie Street's pro-referendum petition at the Sydney Town Hall in 1957 for Indigenous people’s rights
- Student tours - e.g. the Freedom Rides led by Charles Perkins raising awareness of discrimination in 1965
- Films - e.g. the constant circulation of William Grayden's film Warburton Ranges depicting the horrific living conditions of Indigenous people living in the area when nuclear testing was taking place in 1957
- Peaceful protests - e.g. Aboriginal land rights march in Melbourne in 1968
However, the success of the Black Panther Party influenced a few Aboriginal rights activists to question the effectiveness of these methods, since there was still a large amount of issues regarding the well-being of Aboriginal people that could not be addressed simply with changes in legislative law. These new activists were young and passionate, and were tired of the passive methods of petitioning and writing letters that older campaigners have always stuck towards in their fight for civil rights. When news of the achievements made by the Black Panther Party arrived in Australia, these activists became inspired by their success and, fueled by their anger and frustration at the slow rate of change in their nation, decided to carry out more revolutionary methods of protest. Instead of focusing on achieving equality and changing Australian laws on Indigenous people, these young activists fought for self-determination and the ability to control one's own destiny, values that were central to the original Black Panther Party.
The Australian Black Panther Party
Denis Walker and Sam Watson were Australian activists who, inspired by the Black Panthers in America, established the Brisbane based Australian Black Panther Party in 1972. Walker stated that the Australian Black Panther Party was formed to act as “the vanguard for all depressed people, and in Australia the Aboriginals are the most depressed of all". The Australian version of the party had similar ideals and methods to its American counterpart, believing that political violence was necessary in times of great change, and all members had to learn to use and service weapons correctly. When Walker was charged for the possession of a concealable firearm, he told the media that “if you haven't got a gun, you have nothing. We're not going to get what we want by standing here and talking." This belief was very similar to that of Huey P. Newton during his time in the Black Panther Party, where he demanded that African Americans were given the right to bear arms in the name of self-protection and self-reliance.
Just like the original party in America, the Australian Black Panthers led a large amount of forceful and defiant protests that often resulted in acts of violence and disapproval from the public. During a demonstration against Brisbane in the 1970s, the protests quickly disintegrated into chaos and many Aboriginal activists began to attack the police. Walker climbed on top of a car to address his fellow supporters and was hit by many rocks, while several policemen were pushed to the ground. By the time the demonstration came to an end, Walker and eight other Aboriginal activists were arrested and taken to court. When activists exited the hearing, they remained determined to stand up for their beliefs, giving a collective Black Power salute to the public that was so commonly used by the original Black Panther members in America.
However, Walker also took time to distinguish the main differences between the Australian and the American party of the same name in the following year during an address in Melbourne University. The Australian Black Panthers did not exercise violent methods just for the sake of violent revolution; rather, their main priority was in Aboriginal land rights, and they were prepared to use their threat of guns in order to ensure that these rights were given to the Indigenous people.
Denis Walker and Sam Watson were Australian activists who, inspired by the Black Panthers in America, established the Brisbane based Australian Black Panther Party in 1972. Walker stated that the Australian Black Panther Party was formed to act as “the vanguard for all depressed people, and in Australia the Aboriginals are the most depressed of all". The Australian version of the party had similar ideals and methods to its American counterpart, believing that political violence was necessary in times of great change, and all members had to learn to use and service weapons correctly. When Walker was charged for the possession of a concealable firearm, he told the media that “if you haven't got a gun, you have nothing. We're not going to get what we want by standing here and talking." This belief was very similar to that of Huey P. Newton during his time in the Black Panther Party, where he demanded that African Americans were given the right to bear arms in the name of self-protection and self-reliance.
Just like the original party in America, the Australian Black Panthers led a large amount of forceful and defiant protests that often resulted in acts of violence and disapproval from the public. During a demonstration against Brisbane in the 1970s, the protests quickly disintegrated into chaos and many Aboriginal activists began to attack the police. Walker climbed on top of a car to address his fellow supporters and was hit by many rocks, while several policemen were pushed to the ground. By the time the demonstration came to an end, Walker and eight other Aboriginal activists were arrested and taken to court. When activists exited the hearing, they remained determined to stand up for their beliefs, giving a collective Black Power salute to the public that was so commonly used by the original Black Panther members in America.
However, Walker also took time to distinguish the main differences between the Australian and the American party of the same name in the following year during an address in Melbourne University. The Australian Black Panthers did not exercise violent methods just for the sake of violent revolution; rather, their main priority was in Aboriginal land rights, and they were prepared to use their threat of guns in order to ensure that these rights were given to the Indigenous people.
The Rise of Black Power
The notion of Black Power as made popular by the Black Panthers also influenced other civil rights groups to resort to more forceful methods of protest. The Aboriginal Embassy was a party established on Australia Day in 1972 with the original purpose of fighting for Aboriginal land rights. The group was formed when four Aboriginal activists set up tents outside Parliament House in Canberra and demanded that laws be changed so Aboriginal land could be returned back to their rightful owners. Enlightened by the Black Panther movement in America, the Aboriginal Embassy strongly resisted several attempts made by police to remove their tents, resulting in multiple instances of shuffles between supporters and policemen. As more Australians witnessed the violence that was being inflicted on the Aboriginal activists, people all over the country were outraged at the behaviour of the police, and support for the Aboriginal Embassy grew to more than 2000 within a few months. The Embassy has since become a symbol of protest and resistance for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians alike, fueled by a firm belief in Black Power and the need for Indigenous Australians to step up and fight for their rights.
Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Power played a vital role in Australian civil rights in the late 20th century, inspiring Aboriginal activists not only to fight for self-determination and Black Power but also to provide oppressed communities with social services and programs. Although most Australian activists avoided Newton's radical approach to protest, his core beliefs and ideas were agreed upon by all, and he has since become an icon of revolutionary protest and the fight against racism.
The notion of Black Power as made popular by the Black Panthers also influenced other civil rights groups to resort to more forceful methods of protest. The Aboriginal Embassy was a party established on Australia Day in 1972 with the original purpose of fighting for Aboriginal land rights. The group was formed when four Aboriginal activists set up tents outside Parliament House in Canberra and demanded that laws be changed so Aboriginal land could be returned back to their rightful owners. Enlightened by the Black Panther movement in America, the Aboriginal Embassy strongly resisted several attempts made by police to remove their tents, resulting in multiple instances of shuffles between supporters and policemen. As more Australians witnessed the violence that was being inflicted on the Aboriginal activists, people all over the country were outraged at the behaviour of the police, and support for the Aboriginal Embassy grew to more than 2000 within a few months. The Embassy has since become a symbol of protest and resistance for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians alike, fueled by a firm belief in Black Power and the need for Indigenous Australians to step up and fight for their rights.
Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Power played a vital role in Australian civil rights in the late 20th century, inspiring Aboriginal activists not only to fight for self-determination and Black Power but also to provide oppressed communities with social services and programs. Although most Australian activists avoided Newton's radical approach to protest, his core beliefs and ideas were agreed upon by all, and he has since become an icon of revolutionary protest and the fight against racism.