Aboriginal Charter of Rights
By Oodgeroo Noonuccal
We want hope, not racialism,
Brotherhood, not ostracism,
Black advance, not white ascendance:
Make us equals, not dependants.We need help, not exploitation,
We want freedom, not frustration;
Not control, but self-reliance,
Independence, not compliance,
Not rebuff, but education,
Self-respect, not resignation.
Free us from a mean subjection,
From a bureaucrat Protection.
Let’s forget the old-time slavers:
Give us fellowship, not favours;
Encouragement, not prohibitions,
Homes, not settlements and missions.
We need love, not overlordship,
Grip of hand, not whip-hand wardship;
Opportunity that places
White and black on equal basis.
You dishearten, not defend us,
Circumscribe, who should befriend us.
Give us welcome, not aversion,
Give us choice, not cold coercion,
Status, not discrimination,
Human rights, not segregation.
You the law, like Roman Pontius,
Make us proud, not colour-conscious;
Give the deal you still deny us,
Give goodwill, not bigot bias;
Give ambition, not prevention,
Confidence, not condescension;
Give incentive, not restriction,
Give us Christ, not crucifixion.
Though baptized and blessed and Bible
We are still tabooed and libelled.
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 own land rank as aliens?
Banish bans and conquer caste,
Then we’ll win our own at last.
Summary of Aboriginal Charter of Rights
- Popularity of “Aboriginal Charter of Rights”: The poem Aboriginal Charter of Rights was written by Oodgeroo Noonuccal, an Aboriginal Australian artist and writer. The poem is a statement, symbolic and straightforward, that raises the voice for the rights of indigenous Australians. The writer demands equal rights as well as freedom of expression for these people. The popularity of the poem lies in its impressive description of the problems Aboriginal Australians face and the writer’s support for her community.
- “Aboriginal Charter of Rights” As a Representative of Suppression: The poem juxtaposes Aboriginal and other Australian existential settings along with key civil, political, and social issues. The poem opens when the speaker highlights the problems Aboriginals Australians face. She demands equal rights and the building of candid relationships like brotherhood among Aboriginals and other Australians. The speaker seems fed up with the unjust policies of the Australian government toward her community. Her strong feelings for her people and the defensive tone of the poem suggest that the government control, exploit, and keep them subjugated. Moreover, her demands show that they face discrimination on social, political, religious, and civil grounds. This unfair treatment has resulted in frustration, hopelessness, and enslavement for them. Therefore, the speaker takes a bold stance, demanding protection and freedom from racist government policies. She hates the way these people face treatment as aliens on their own land. Thus, the writer makes her audience aware of the rights Aboriginals do not enjoy at the time of her writing.
- Major Themes in “Aboriginal Charter of Rights”: Racism, inequality, and prejudice are the major themes of the poem. The poem accounts for the unfair treatment of the Aboriginal population of Australia. Keeping the acute miseries of her people on board, Oodgeroo Noonuccal intended to expose the sufferings and prejudice faced by Aboriginals under the control of the biased Australian government and corrupt political system. The writer is a staunch believer in indigenous rights, as reflected in the poem. She uses various poetic elements to highlight the supremacy the Australian white majority enjoys, ignoring her community’s rights and fair demands. Through this poem, the speaker conveys an essential message that one should not tolerate any injustice and disgrace. Instead, one should raise a voice against the prevailing disturbing situation.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Aboriginal Charter of Rights”
literary devices are specific techniques that allow the writers to add deeper meanings that go beyond what is on the page. Oodgeroo Noonuccal has used various literary devices in this poem, whose analysis is as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /e/ and /o/ in “Make us neighbours, not fringe-dwellers” and the sound of /a/ in “Though baptized and blessed and Bible.”
- Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. Oodgeroo Noonuccal has repeated the word “give (noun)” at many places in the poem to emphasize the point, such as;
“Give the deal you still deny us,
Give goodwill, not bigot bias;
Give ambition, not prevention.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /b/ in “Banish bans” and /k/ sound in “not cold coercion.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /n/ in “Then we’ll win our own at last” and the sound of /d/ in “Though baptized and blessed and Bible.”
- Epigraph: It is a device used in the form of a poem, quote, or sentence, usually placed at the beginning of the poem to suggest the overall theme of the poem. The writer has used this device in the opening line where it is stated as “We want hope, not racialism/ Brotherhood, not ostracism.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
“Though baptized and blessed and Bible
We are still tabooed and libelled.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Oodgeroo Noonuccal has used imagery in the poem such as “Grip of hand, not whip-hand wardship,” “We are still tabooed and libelled” and “Black advance, not white ascendance.”
- Metaphor: The poem shows the use of metaphor as the abstract ideas of freedom, equality, and equal rights. The poem presents a metaphor, such as he says the government is equal to the law “You the law, like Roman Pontius.”
- Rhetorical Question: Rhetorical question is a question that is not asked in order to receive an answer; it is just posed to make the point clear. Oodgeroo Noonuccal has posed rhetorical questions toward the end of the poem to put emphasize her point, such as “In our own land rank as aliens?”
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The expressions like “We want freedom, not frustration” and “We want hope, not racialism” symbolize the suffering of the speaker and her people.
- Simile: The poem shows the use of a simile, such as he compares the white people with Roman Pontius “You the law, like Roman Pontius.”
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Aboriginal Charter of Rights”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: The poem shows descriptive diction, having metaphors and powerful imagery.
- Free Verse: The poem does not follow any rhyme scheme. Therefore, it is a free verse poem having no rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. It is a long poem, having no stanza break.
Quotes to be Used
The lines stated below are useful to use in motivational speech to reinforce the ideas of equality, freedom, and justice.
“We need help, not exploitation,
We want freedom, not frustration;
Not control, but self-reliance,
Independence, not compliance,
Not rebuff, but education,
Self-respect, not resignation.”