Indigenous Australians have taken to Twitter in response to comments by Senator Pauline Hanson to the effect that there is "no definition" of Aboriginality.
Speaking with Andrew Bolt on Sky News, Hanson implied that people are benefiting from identifying as Aboriginal without their racial identity being proven.
"If you marry an Aboriginal you can be classified (as one), or if the community or the elders accept you into that community you can be defined as an Aboriginal," she said. "That's not good enough because then if you make a comment about it, well what are you? Are you an Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal?"
Hanson said her concerns were about "equality", but Aboriginal Australians aren't buying it. Nor her claims that their cultural identity is something people just make up for financial gain.
On Twitter, the hashtag #DefineAboriginal has been trending since Hanson's comments hit the headlines Tuesday morning. Many of the tweets, including from former Senator Nova Peris, Labor MP Linda Burney, actor Miranda Tapsell and rapper Briggs, refer to instances where white people defined their Aboriginality through racism.
Being told by a white boy from Tassie that that his people pushed my people off a cliff #DefineAboriginal
— Miranda Tapsell (@missmirandatap) November 29, 2016
Getting called a witchetty grub eating black cu*t from a white man in his 60's #DefineAboriginal
— Nova Peris OAM (@NovaPeris) November 29, 2016
When Bill Leak draws a cartoon to save your kids #DefineAboriginal
— BRIGGS AKA BIG SIGH (@BriggsGE) November 29, 2016
Being told by a school mate at my reunion that the day I was born was the darkest in my town's history #defineaboriginal @RyanJGriffen
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) November 29, 2016
Many pointed out the racism and hypocrisy behind the premise of demanding Aboriginal people define their race and culture in a country that once employed principles of eugenics in a bid to wipe them out.
Identifying as Aboriginal only to be told "Don't worry, I couldn't even tell" #DefineAboriginal
— Rudi (@rudi_bee) November 29, 2016
Explaining that Social Darwinism and Eugenics are disproven science to people who think us primitives don't get science... #defineAboriginal
— Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) November 29, 2016
When a white person glances at you to work out your blood quantum, then boasts they know more about Aboriginal culture. #DefineAboriginal
— Wyld, Karen (@1KarenWyld) November 29, 2016
Being told you're too pretty & smart to be Aboriginal. #DefineAboriginal
— Tay (@littletaysimo) November 29, 2016
(•_•)
— a Murri Aboriginal (@handsomemurri) November 29, 2016
<) )╯ define
/ \
\(•_•)
( (> Whiteness
/ \
(•_•)
<) )> instead
/ \#DefineAboriginal
And others took a positive approach, refusing to be defined by disadvantage and white prejudice.
#DefineAboriginal Deadly. Smart. Proud. Surviving. Thriving. Oldest. Living. Culture. ME
— kk (@flashblak) November 29, 2016
We are not defined by disadvantage or discrimination. We know who we are & we are proud! #DefineAboriginal @amnestyOz
— Roxy Moore (@RoxyAmnestyOz) November 29, 2016
Hanson's comments echo the sentiment of a series of articles by Andrew Bolt in 2011, which were found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act. He'd accused fair skinned Aboriginal people of using their identity for financial gain, implying their Aboriginal identity was illegitimate and a "choice" because they had mixed heritage or didn't "look" Aboriginal.
The Racial Discrimination Act is now back on the table after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced an inquiry into the wording of Section 18C.