Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media

by Amy McQuire

From one of Australia's leading Indigenous journalists comes a collection of fierce and powerful essays proving why the media need to believe Black witnesses and showcasing ways that journalism can be used to hold the powerful to account and make the world a more equitable place.

Amy McQuire has been writing on Indigenous affairs since she was seventeen years old and, over the past eighteen years, has reported on most of the key events involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including numerous deaths in custody, the Palm Island uprising, the Bowraville murders and the Northern Territory Intervention. She has also drawn attention to the misrepresentations and violence of mainstream media accounts, and also to their omissions and silences in regards to Indigenous matters altogether. In myriad ways the mainstream media has repeatedly failed to report accurately, responsibly or comprehensively on Indigenous affairs.

Black Witness is the essential collection of First Nations journalism that we need right now – and always have.

AMY McQUIRE is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. She is a prolific Aboriginal affairs journalist, academic, writer and commentator who has been published in Guardian Australia, the National Indigenous Times, The Saturday Paper, BuzzFeed News Australia, New Matilda, Vogue Australia, Marie Claire, The New York Times and The Washington Post, among others. She currently co-hosts Curtain The Podcast, which was named one of the top 25 true crime podcasts by New York’s Vulture magazine. In 2019 she won a Clarion Award and was nominated for a Walkley Award for her essay on the wrongful conviction of Aboriginal man Kevin Henry, and in 2023 she won Meanjin’s Hilary McPhee Award for brave essay writing for her piece on the disappearing of Aboriginal women. She is an Indigenous postdoctoral fellow at the Queensland University of Technology.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Australia, Race, Politics, Social Justice, Sociology

Audible Audio

First published October 16, 2024

About the author

Amy McQuire is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander journalist who lives and works in Rockhampton. She has more than ten years experience in Aboriginal journalism and has previously worked at the National Indigenous Times, Tracker Magazine, NITV and New Matilda. She is currently the Indigenous Affairs reporter for Buzzfeed.

Reviews

[Sarah Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that is harrowing but so well written, and I couldn't stop reading, even when it was breaking my heart. While much of the world, even beyond America, has taken interest in learning about racial violence in the US, especially in the wake of George Floyd, I haven't seen as much interest within Australia - and certainly not outside the country - to learn more about being Indigenous in Australia. McQuire discusses many of the issues that most Australians should know about, but what made this book unique was how clearly she demonstrated the bias in what is (and is not) reported in the media, even critically reflecting on her own reporting in her early career. Despite knowing about most of the issues she raises in general, McQuire really expertly weaves in detailed accounts of the people involved in these stories, and it really adds to the emotional power of the statistics she uses to emphasise how widespread these issues are. Her criticisms of objectivity might be confronting from some, but frankly the idea of pure objectivity is a fiction, and I think the way she discusses objectivity, 'balance', and positionality shows just how much she understands the power of framing in selecting who to talk to and what to share, and the underlying drivers that shape that framing. Some of the facts and stories shocked me, despite me knowing how bad things are already. This is the power of a good writer, and she certainly is one.

[G Batts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I’ll Type 2 appreciate this book. I found it a slog to read but as the memory of reading it fades, I’ll grow a greater appreciation of the issues raised.

A problem with these types of books, that are collections of articles and essays published elsewhere, is that the articles were never written to be read back-to-back. Like in this book, where the articles cover similar topics, there is a huge amount of repetition. From what I can glean, there was no editing the articles to suit a book form other than putting some introductions in place. There were even some references to time kept in the book edit, e.g., “this week” and “this year.” The arguments themselves were full of logical fallacies: straw men, confirmation bias, selective sampling, conflating US and Australian examples, comparing unequal data sets, ad hominem attacks, etc. Which again becomes draining to read as a collection. Some essays were case studies and I found them really waffly being that I am not that familiar with 20-year-old cases from a state I wasn’t living in at the time.

Left as individual pieces, the articles should be critical pieces for people studying journalism as a reminder to check your biases and to look harder at a story, and to support journalism and witnesses from impacted communities. The articles also serve as good primers for a lot of contemporary Australian fiction, particularly First Nation fiction for reader who want a better understand of the context of the novel. Now excuse me while I go subscribe to Amy’s Substack.

[Deb Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Brilliant. In a tragic way. Felt very schooled by this book and it has really increased my analysis of how reporting gets done. Powerful and well put together. All those injustices on Blak bodies that means death and unfairness. I’m ashamed and constantly shocked by this country, no accountability and no convictions for almost 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody. WYAF Australia?!?! Violent colonisation still ongoing here. Disgusted.

[Stella Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant and thought-provoking book. I find myself reluctant to attempt a impromptu review of the content and ideas themselves - much of it eye-opening, powerful, and challenging. McQuire makes her case for the importance of Indigenous voices being empowered to tell their own stories about their histories, communities, and societal challenges, rather than be lectured to by (usually) "whitefellas" with little to no understanding or appreciation for the painful and traumatic complexities involved - or else be condescended to by well-meaning "white knights" who indirectly engage in the erasure of Indigenous perspectives by presuming to be their spokespeople in a world they cannot understand but through the tired eyes of an enlightened Western progressive.

Sometimes, the best thing someone like me can do is just to shut up, listen, try to understand, realise I do not quite as much as I might like to think, and then keep on trying to learn by listening to voices that actually deserve to speak on their own behalf.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just about the most important book in Australia right now. Read it. Listen. Learn. Be active in advocating for Indigenous lives.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a strong and well-put-together collection of writings from the incomparable Amy McQuire. McQuire worked on landmark publications like National Indigenous Times and Tracker before a more recent career as a freelancer. She includes here a range of writing, with introductions that contextualise her current approach to foregrounding Black Witnesses in truth-telling.
These are the kind of stories that don't get told, at least never from the proper perspective, and the collection holds up as an evidential indictment of policing, government and reporting. But it is also just worth reading for McQuire's developing style of to the point, engaging prose. Her later pieces crackle and, despite their brevity, convey whole worlds of pain, love and struggle as a necessity of exerting dignity. The earlier, generally longer, investigative pieces chronicle a time in which this reportage created space for Blak voices. You don't want to hope for more of this writing, given the reasons it is so necessary, but if we don't want it, we certainly do need it.

[bibliomoons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish everyone could read this. McGuire writes with so much precision, compassion, and moral clarity.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was incredibly depressing and a strong argument for broadening your source of news. A lot of the stories highlighted in the essays I had never heard of and was enraged at the injustices featured in them. A must read.

[Otis Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

God it's refreshing to read something that truly feels like its speaking to Black readers, I'm still figuring out how she does it but its something I aspire to. Amy's reframing of journalism might seem subtle but the impact is immense and has forever changed how I will read and write media.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Natasha (jouljet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Australian media is largely white, male and middle-class.the news production process is based on interpretations made by this group, and it's audience is also assumed to be - if not male and middle-class - white, or most certainly non-Indigenous."

Thus, the stories, perspectives and truths for Blak Australians are mostly missing from the Australian mainstream media narratives. The bias is evident, and damaging. It means justice and truth is abandoned.

Amy McQuire has worked in Aboriginal media spaces most of her career, from the early days, and covered big, front page worthy stories - but because they are Blak stories, they have often not been covered, picked up, or given space.

This is a collection of essays of Amy's work across the years, examining the bias, the ongoing resistance of communities, the need for justice.

Black Witnesses are frequently dismissed, not interviewed, or platformed. The White Witness in Australia trumps all, in too many stories.

Amy also shares many families and communities seeking answers and justice following the death of a, or many, loved ones. Deaths in police custody are continuing, without adequate investigation. Cases of the missing, suspicious death, and murder of Aboriginal people in the community also too often go without resolution, nor justice and closure for their communities.

(There have been 597 Indigenous deaths in custody since the Royal Commission, 12 since the beginning of this year.)

This is an important book for all Australians, indeed all people who live in the world. Sadly even more so this past week, after the death of another young Aboriginal man in Alice Springs died after being restrained by Northern Territory police officers inside a supermarket. The fight for an independent investigation has begun, to ensure police are not investigating themselves, with the same, predictable outcomes. The quest for truth and justice begins with unbiased, untainted, unmanipulated reporting.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays examining media representation of Indigenous Australians that highlights shocking omissions and misrepresentations as well as the appallingly biased and ignorant story-telling that happens across our media and society. Each of the essays tells an important story. I found this difficult to read as the book only consists of a series of 'stand-alone' articles. This meant there was a lot of repetition and, as I progressed through the book, it began to feel like some of the pieces were almost emulating the kind of journalism they were decrying. I really liked the way specific examples and facts were used to highlight both conscious and unconscious bias. I didn't like the presentation of the stories as they had not been edited into a format that builds an overall case across the whole book, which would have been far more effective. I found this a powerful and confronting book and at times the injustices and misrepresentations brought me to tears. I recommend that readers only read one article at a time, and then move on to reading something else before they come back to the next article, as a much better way to appreciate McQuires writing and messages.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me angry - VERY angry - due to exposure of the bias shown towards our First Nations people. How can the "popular" media claim to be presenting news when they mislead, twist and omit important facts?!!!

From one of this country' s leading Indigenous journalists comes a collection of fierce and powerful essays proving why the media needs to believe Black Witnesses. Amy McQuire has been writing on Indigenous affairs since she was 17 years old. Over the past two decades, she has reported on most of the key events involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including numerous deaths in custody, the Palm Island uprising, the Bowraville murders and the Northern Territory Intervention. She has also exposed the misrepresentations and violence of the mainstream media' s reports, as well as their omissions and silences altogether in regards to Indigenous matters. Black Witness showcases how journalism can be used to hold the powerful to account and make the world a more equitable place. This is the essential collection that we need right now – and always have.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

...regardless of any history or pain, you can never know, unless you are black, what it feels like to be black. That is the power that the Black Witness has, but that power is also a threat.

One of those books that needs to be read by every Australian. Amy McQuire's collection of essays and articles is incredibly topical in the 21st Century where First Nations Australians still experience prejudices in all facets of society, ranging from the criminal justice system to healthcare. This collection identifies the importance of Black Witnesses and highlights Black perspectives in contrast to the often more respected and manipulative 'White Witnesses'. I went through this book slowly as it was a little hard to get through but everything is well-researched and enlightening. I have learnt a lot about the way the media misconstrues testimony to portray a narrative of white supremacy. Very important in a time where people are honestly struggling with media literacy and 'fake news'.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

McQuire's clarity on Indigenous affairs is a call to arms and an education. Her judicious examination of the Australian justice system is set to shock – consider:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 27% of the national prison population, while only making up 2% of Australia's population
• In the decade from 2006 to 2016, these rates jumped by 41%
• Aboriginal women now make up 34% of the female prison population
• From 1991 to 2020, 432 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lost their lives in custody
• There has never been a conviction of a police or corrections officer over an Indigenous death in their care.

McQuire pairs these striking statistics with sympathetically told stories, and while the essay format felt a bit formless at times this is still a very relevant read.

[Natalia Figueroa Barroso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly well researched book, Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media by Amy McQuire informs its readers how the Black witness is subordinated by a racist political discourse from those at the top of the hierarchy i.e. the State, the Murdoch media, White witnesses and White journalists to name a few because being a so-called objective reporter, “is a colonial notion that bypasses the voices of Black witnesses …” plus Dr Amy McQuire unravels and critiques this notion as being unrealistic because all journalist have an agenda, some show their bias with the transparency of their activism and speak to its urgent attention for human rights, however, some so-called journalists claim to be impartial and transparent but in reality they have hidden prejudices like those who go to Israel on paid propaganda tours.

This book is a MUST read.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it has been shortlisted for the Stella Prize 2025, and I am glad I did. In it, the author delivers a collection of short and long-form pieces she has published over the years throughout her journalistic career. The first half of the book contains a number of challenging long-form essays on Aboriginal affairs, and I think these are very strong pieces, particularly those about the lead up to the Northern Territory intervention. The second half of the book contains predominantly shorter-form pieces and there is a bit of overlap in some of the examples used, which dulls the impact of some of the later ones. This is probably inevitable in a collection of articles published in a range of publications - there is bound to be some overlap. Still, this was an incredibly powerful book and I think it will sit with me for some time.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and even though it covered challenging and upsetting topics, it was difficult to put down. I liked the concept of putting a black lense on some of the recent events in Australia that we all know well. Amy challenges she motion of journalistic objectivity and that was really refreshing. Her unapologetic anti imperialist lense was refreshing. The book goes into blak deaths in custody, discrimination in the health system, the NT intervention and the Bowraville murders and more - these stories angered me but I loved the way Amy humanised the people’s stories. I imagine the act of being heard and cared for would’ve been incredibly healing for some families and communities. I think this book is special and it needs to be read widely in this colony. Thank you Amy.

[Talei · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book which should be compulsory reading for all Australians. I learnt so much. I especially appreciated McQuire's reflections on the media and the intervention from her personal experience of her first job as a journo in Canberra. It was also fascinating to read her published writings on all the cases she has reported on to do with deaths in custody and systemic racism across Australia as well. I thought it worked really well all together as a collection of essays with the compelling insights/thoughtwork around the importance of the Black witness and media for justice and liberation which I'm sure will be thoroughly cited for many for yrs to come.

[Bronwen Heathfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have any interest in Australian indigenous issues and the power of media please read this set of essays. The overall message is listen and listen carefully to black voices. Our media privileges the ‘white witness’ skewing our understanding of the rampant racism in our community. I am embarrassed that I knew very few of the stories told of black deaths- however I don’t read a lot of those stories anyway. The perspective on the NT intervention and Palm Island was fascinating. Amy McQuire is a good writer and is honest in her opinion. A must for the home library and a book to recommend to white people who are willing to be challenged.

[Shaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful, confronting non-fiction book about the bias and racism in the media, police force and judicial system.
Essays and articles give a voice to First Nations people about the deaths in custody in Australian police cells or vans; the disproportionate incarceration of First Nations people (especially women) compared to white people; the charges brought against First Nations people that are not brought against white people.
This is very challenging read. When the bias is exposed and truth is told, the tragedy of lives lost and families impacted by unnecessary deaths gives way to anger and injustice. It took me many weeks to finish this book because of its content.

[Sandhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important must-read for all non-Indigenous Australians to bring awareness to how framing media through the lens of whiteness, where whiteness is deemed "neutral" and "unbiased", has allowed for the perpetuation of colonial violence on Indigenous communities through our medical and justice systems. Amy McQuire rebalances some of the skewed narratives we have been fed by traditional mainstream Australian media with in-depth, factual and compassionate accounts.

Also available on audio book.

Shoutout to National Indigenous Times and their amazing work.

[Claire Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Searing and devastating indictment of the ways the political and injustice systems and the media continue to perpetuate settler colonial violence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in so-called australia. A must read

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each individual essay was informative and powerful, ranging from good to excellent. But this doesn't necessarily translate to a whole book being excellent. It was sometimes repetitive and lacked a clear overarching structure. Still very worth reading and important.

[Nabil · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We must continue to build a black media that recognises our strength in not conforming to white standards of excellence, but in upholding black standards, black aspirations. We must work in service to Black Witnesses because we are also Black Witnesses."

[Dec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every journalist in this country should read this. A phenomenal collection from one of the nations best journalists

[Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most vital books for anyone living in australia to learn and relearn and unlearn 💗 thank you Dr. McQuire

[K W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a harrowing read, a fantastic collection of McGuire's journalism that serves to deeper understandings of ongoing injustice and resilience.

[Jazmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

zero stars for this colony that gets it up for police SO HARD.