Radical Heart

by Shireen Morris

Neither Indigenous nor white, Shireen Morris is both outside observer and instrumental insider in the fight for Indigenous rights. Shaped by her family's Indian and Fijian migrant story, Morris is a key player in what many consider the greatest moral challenge of our nation: constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. She takes us inside this vital campaign to meet the powerful Indigenous advocates, helpful (and unhelpful) non-Indigenous lawyers, unlikely conservative and monarchist allies and infuriating politicians. We travel with Morris through the wins, disappointments and, ultimately, the betrayals that led to the Turnbull government's heartbreaking rejection of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Radical Heart is a challenge for all Australians to dream together of a fairer future, and work as one to make it happen.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Indigenous, Australia

398 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2018

About the author

Shireen Morris is a constitutional lawyer and senior lecturer at Macquarie University Law School. She is the author of Radical Heart: Three Stories Make Us One and co-editor of A Rightful Place: A Roadmap to Recognition and The Forgotten People.

Reviews

[Skadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and revealing look into the behind the scenes work being done towards meaningful positive change for Indigenous Australians and ultimately all Australians. We are all better off in a society that engages with a strong Indigenous voice.
Ultimately this book made me angry at the deceit played out by our politicians on both sides of the spectrum. It also made me hopeful for change in seeing the strength behind the feeling for positive change.

[Michelle King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful, and a call to arms, this timely book sheds a whole lot of light onto a struggle for Constitutional recognition that should be front and centre in our Australian consciousness. In the need to have the middle way heard, some voices were lost, but I still appreciated this window into the back streets of current political realities. Read it if you're interested in how ways forward can be negotiated (or not!) in our centrist Australian political reality.

[Ashani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. However, I found the tone in which the author discussed complex Indigenous affairs too simplistic and authoritative. I understand that the author has done a lot of work and study relating to Indigenous self determination and that the book is biographical however it felt off putting to read as I felt there was a lack of privileging of Indigenous voices. As a non-Indigenous settler myself I am conscious of privileging my own views over the views of people wth lived experiences as is the case in this book. I’d love to see the author use their platform to lift up and provide space for Indigenous voices.

[Vannessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like a campaign manifesto for constitutional recognition of Australia's Indigenous people by this Indian-Australian lawyer who has worked closely with leader, Noel Pearson. The book is, however, a fascinating read of how the campaign worked closely with conservatives and political leaders to win meaningful constitutional recognition and what that might look like. It gave this reader insights into the stance and thinking of various political leaders, advocates from the entire political spectrum, and Indigenous community on what Australia needs to do to achieve justice and reconciliation. Really thought provoking read.

[Romany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to keep up with politics. I’m not stupid, and I’m not apathetic but I really do miss so much. I feel as though this book has filled a huge hole in my knowledge of what’s been happening in Australia over the past 7 years (and also what’s been happening in the life of my friend, who wrote this). This is not just a book about hope and the search for substantive constitutional recognition through a First Nations voice guaranteed in the constitution. It’s also about some shitty, petty politicians, and other people with strong arguments, morals and creative ideas whose voices need to be heard and listened to and acted upon. It’s a call to action for all of us.

[Ahlam Mustafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very insightful and frustrating book to read. It details the amount of litigation and patience it takes to infiltrate systems of oppression in order to change structures of violence and discrimination.
As an immigrant from a country with a colonial present, living in a country with a colonial past, it is always very triggering for me to witness continuing discrimination against aboriginal people in Australia. It is also very hard to reconcile with my position as someone benefiting from this establishment that is yet to fully recognise and make right the atrocities of the past.

I highly recommend this book to every Australian.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a passionate story about the author's extensive work to understand the best way to recognise and include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution, and to obtain consensus from across a very broad range of people. The book is well-written and fascinating. It explains issues without being either patronising or too brief, and Shireen doesn't hold back on giving individuals and organisations credit or criticism as she feels appropriate, which is quite entertaining and humanising. An important read.

[Beread_in · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simply a game changing book for me.

I know/knew next to nothing about the topic Morris so passionately and confidently talks about. This has sparked a desire to deepen a better understanding of Australian narratives for me.

In particular, I enjoyed reading about Morris' experiences of Australia from the perspective of an immigrant family so closely resembling my own.

Most importantly the resilience and perserverence of many peoples in here was inspiring.

[Eliza Genang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want everyone to read this. Read it to learn what the Uluru Statement from the Heart was all about. Read it to learn about the constitutional change Aboriginal leaders are pursuing for the benefit of the whole nation. Read it to learn about how these ideas were negotiated over years of tireless advocacy and negotiations. Read it to realise that although you lived through the years leading up to the recommendations from Uluru, you weren’t really across the issues. Now is the time to learn.

[G Batts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d skip the first two chapters of what is otherwise a thoughtful and knowledgeable insight into the constitutional recognition debate. The book clarified symbolic versus meaningful recognition and will help readers understand some of the language being used by politicians and the media. Weirdly, the author writes as if the cause has already been lost.

[Michelle Bashta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential reading for all Australians. A detailed and engaging account of the events and process leading up to the Uluru Statement From The Heart, it is also a call to arms for all Australians to engage with this issue and forge a new path towards a fairer and more just country.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and engaging book about the arguments behind recognising (or not recognising) Australia's indigenous people in a political context. Thoughtful and personal account of of a non-indigenous person working to achieve justice.

[Chris Freudenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating read and such an important issue for Australians to understand and support! Shireen Morris has unpacked and presented the development of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in a clear and interesting way. The backroom discussions are particularly interesting.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read that tells you so much abit it constitution, its importance and how hard it is to change

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful, honest and daring - great read!

[Lish · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like reading detailed accounts of the fight for constitutional change in Australia - this is the book for you.

Predominately this book is about Shireen Morris and her boss Noel Pearson trying to work with both the left and right wings of politics to try and enshrine a First Nations voice to parliament in the constitution. It details the disappointments, shifts in thinking and frustrations of change.

Autobiographical detail is threaded through somewhat, elements about the actual issues facing First Nations people in this country are touched on and it relates some details about immigrants as part of the story, but really, this is the tale of a lawyer trying to create change and the process around that.

I would recommend it if you would like to understand more about the story leading to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and if you'd like to understand the mechanics behind the advocation for change and the novel idea of a "radical centre" style of politics that takes progressive ideas from the left, with an abundance of conservatism to make it happen from the right.

An interesting and very enlightening book. Frustrating and a bit heartbreaking, but hopeful for the future of the country.