It’s been called the most important Australian television program of the year and a wake-up call for white Australia: SBS’ First Contact aired last night and has caused debate, backlash and, ultimately, discussion about the misconceptions of Australia’s first people.
The majority of Australians, six out of every 10, have little or no contact with Australia’s indigenous communities, according to Reconciliation Australia.
With that surprising statistic in mind, SBS’ First Contact producers chose six Australians with strong views about the aboriginal community to visit the very people they’ve had little to no contact with.
10 Myths busted about aboriginal culture by SBS’ First Contact
Jasmine, Bo-dene, Trent, Alice, Sandy and Marcus, with Ray Martin as host, spent a month in various indigenous communities. Last night, we got a taste of what their journey was like as they spent the night in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Redfern, as well as the remote community of Nyinyikay.
While the experience proved to be too much for some, with Sandy reportedly already taking leave of the show, others embraced the situation or, at least, gave it a go.
The first of the three-part series was met with a storm of comments on social media, revealing some very confronting truths about Australia.
1. It’s difficult to watch one turtle be killed, but not associate the same suffering with other animals we eat on a regular basis:
https://twitter.com/Utopiana/status/534654427366313984
2. There is such a thing as white privilege:
https://twitter.com/Worimi_/status/534829475863592960
3. Equal opportunity doesn’t yet exist for indigenous Australians:
“You get pretty much the same as what I get, if you don’t include the lower life expectancy I guess.” #FirstContactSBS
— anna spargo-ryan 🍉 (@annaspargoryan) November 18, 2014
4. Aboriginal culture hasn’t been embraced by, or included enough, in the curriculum or the media:
#FirstContactSBS is a definitive counter argument to the idea that we have enough Aboriginal content in schools, or enough voices in media.
— Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) November 18, 2014
5. Some people believe that aboriginals receive a lot more benefits than white Australians:
Aboriginal people get heaps white fullas dont get. Early mortality rates, highest rate of heart disease and diabetes. HEAAAPS N THAAT!
— IndigenousX (@IndigenousX) November 18, 2014
6. Some people are willing to be blatantly racist on national television:
It’s one thing to be uneducated and know that you’re uneducated, but flagrant racism just astounds me. #FirstContactSBS
— anna spargo-ryan 🍉 (@annaspargoryan) November 18, 2014
7. While Sandy’s comments shocked many, her beliefs are seemingly not uncommon:
Someone called racist Sandy has left #FirstContactSBS
I haven't watched it.
I only need go outside my house to see ignorance.— The Koori Woman (@TheKooriWoman) November 18, 2014
8. People want to have a dialogue and learn more about indigenous culture:
Solidish audience for #FirstContactSBS but importantly generated much wider cover/convo about indigenous plight, city assumptions & racism.
— steve taylor (@thatstevetaylor) November 18, 2014
9. Racism is ingrained in the way some people view indigenous people:
After #FirstContactSBS I watched Awaken on NITV. The panel certainly trashed Sandy's notion that "black people don't have any brains".
— Rob Irwin (@RobertGIrwin) November 18, 2014
10. As a nation, we still have a long way to go:
https://twitter.com/roo_thee/status/534859674613727232
Did you tune in to First Contact? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the conversation on Twitter.
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