My People

by Oodgeroo

Now published in paperback, this is the third edition of My People but the first to bear the name Oodgeroo. First published in 1970, the anthology of the then Kath Walker was dedicated to 'The Brisbane Aboriginal and Islander Council whose policy is self determination'. The second edition, published in 1981, was dedicated to 'The many people, both black and white, who are fighting for a Makarrata (Aboriginal Land Treaty)'.

Oodgeroo's writing has a unique place in Australian literature. She described it herself as 'pure propaganda' and 'not the best but the best selling'. But it is more than that. Not only is it a provocative and emotional plea for the justice that is still to come for Australian Aborigines, but when her poetry was first published in the sixties it began a new phase in the communication between peoples in Australia. For the first time a Black Australian had analysed and judged white Australians as well as her own people.

Yet, nearly thirty years later, the final lines of 'Aboriginal Charter of Rights' remain sadly relevant.

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 land rank as aliens?
Banish bans and conquer caste,
Then we'll win our own at last.

Genres: Poetry, Australia

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Nola Lorraine]

This book contains mainly poetry from Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly Kath Walker), though it also includes a short story (Interlude), a non-fiction piece about Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), the script of the performance piece that visitors at Expo '88 saw when they entered the Australia Pavilion, a speech that she gave on receiving an honorary doctorate from Griffith University, and a biography. I especially liked the poetry, but the whole book is really powerful.

The poems cover a range of topics, including aboriginal culture and the environment. However, the majority of them relate to social justice themes, especially racism and reconciliation. 'Dark Unmarried Mothers' tells the story of how the white establishment turned a blind eye when white bosses raped aboriginal girls. 'Cookalingee' is dedicated to Elsie Lewis, a cook who had to work on a white man's Station for no wages, but secretly shared the food with others from her tribe who came to the door. 'The Dispossessed' is for Uncle Willie Mackenzie: 'A dying race, you linger on, degraded and oppressed/ Outcasts in your own native land, you are the dispossessed'.

The poems I found especially confronting were the ones that talked about the hypocrisy of Christians. For example, the following lines from 'Intolerance':

'Dark children coming home in tears,
Hurt and bewildered by their jeers -
I think Christ weeps with you, my dears.

People who say, by bias driven,
That colour must not be forgiven,
Would snub the Carpenter in heaven.'

Or the following lines from 'Aboriginal Charter of Rights':

'Give incentive, not restriction,
Give us Christ, not crucifixion.
Though baptised and blessed and Bibled
We are still tabooed and libelled.
You devout Salvation-sellers,
Make us neighbours, not fringe-dwellers.'

But there are also poems of hope. For example, the following lines from 'Let us Not Be Bitter':

'Let us judge white people by the best of their race.
The prejudiced ones are less than we,
We want them no more than they want us.
Let us not be bitter, that is an empty thing,
A maggot in the mind.'

And the following lines from 'A Song of Hope':

'Look up, my people,
The dawn is breaking,
The world is waking
To a bright new day,
When none defame us,
No restriction tame us,
Nor colour shame us,
Nor sneer dismay.'

This is not a comfortable book to read, but it is an important one. The poems are just as relevant today as they were when Oodgeroo wrote them. If I quoted all of the lines that affected me, I would have to reproduce about half of the book. Oodgeroo remains one of the most influential poets of her generation. I highly recommend this book.

[Natasha (jouljet)]

Wow, what a knockout poetry collection, of Aboriginal history and knowledge, cultural practices, place, and fight. The activism and love in this little volume is incredible.

So much to learn and take in with these poems.

Included is Oodgeroo's speech at the Griffith University acceptance presentation for an Honorary Doctorate in 1989. A blistering, rich and fierce speech - a call to arms, a call for white people in Australia to learn the history of Australia, for the betterment of the country. All rings true today, as much as it did the day it was delivered.

[Lauren]

Not the most technically wowing poetry, by Oodgeroo's own admission, but still powerful. Would be a particularly good read if poetry tends to intimidate you.
Favourites:
My Love
Gifts
Nona
We are Going
and of course, the Aboriginal Charter of Rights

[Ali]

I am fortunate enough to have heard Oodgeroo read her poetry. Her rhythms are best with sound, beating out a sense of time. She recited slowly, owning the time for each word, and landing the impact of her killer final lines. It was many years ago - she was introduced as Kath Walker then - and I was a wee thing, but I have never forgotten the experience.

Picking up this volume I was a little trepidatious. But while some of the 1960s terminology includes some offensive terms, and her technique can be at times clumsy, there is no questioning how impactful many of these poems are. All One Race, for example, would be more quotable if written with access to modern access to Indigenous terms, but you can't deny the humour and passion of:

They’re not interested in brumby runs,
We don’t hanker after Midnight Suns;
I’m for all humankind, not colour gibes;
I’m international, and never mind tribes.

A big strength of this poetry doesn't require literary training to parse either. She speaks of lore, of prejudice, of hypocrisy, and does so in frank and simple language.

Other poems deal with Noonuccal culture, such as the humour and rhythm of Jarri's Love Song

"I got belly-bruise from a club,
But I … got … Nona!
I got a sore where I sit down
But I .. got … Nona.
Lost 'em firesticks, broke it woomera.
No more fishnet, no more tomahawk,
Got no gooreen, got no shield
But I … got … Nona."

This is welcoming poetry, made to make people laugh, and wince and cry and most of all share. And yes, to take action. I had a great time reading it, and frankly, it is a little frustrating that the volume is out of print, and relatively hard to get hold off, given that it is both accessible and significant.

"Pour your pitcher of wine into the wide river
And where is your wine? There is only the river.
Must the genius of an old race die
That the race might live?
We who would be one with you, one people,
We must surrender now much that we love,
The old freedoms for new musts,
Your world for ours,
But a core is left that we must keep always.
Change and compel, slash us into shape,
But nor our roots deep in the soil of old."

I like the angry stuff, it is in my nature perhaps, but in the end it is a hopefulness that we can learn better that stays with me, and this:

"But remember, white man, if life is for happiness,
You too, surely, have much to change."

2019 Reading Challenge #2. A book that makes you nostalgic

[Blair]

To be honest, the the poetry is raw in terms of technique, but it's also full of raw power that really shines through. A hugely important and influential book when it comes to the expression of Aboriginal rights in Australia.

[Vanessa]

I really enjoyed reading these poems- I liked the fact that they’re reflective of what’s happen in Australian history and I think there’s a lot in there that Australian Christians need to reflect on (in terms of the part we’ve played in colonisation using faith as a basis for that).

[Sarah Thornton]

Beautiful poetry, strong sentiments and a sense of how stagnant the Australian culture has been since the 70's.