The Grace Spot Unmuted. Resources to understand Indigenous Australian History and Experience

Three weeks ago, my Instagram feed went dark. Soon after George Floyd was murdered, protests began in the U.S and have since spread all over the world. I’m sure that’s not news to you, though!

As part of the global movement of Black Lives Matter (BLM), Instagram users ‘muted’ themselves for a week in order to listen, and surrender some online space so other voices could be amplified, namely the voices of People Of Colour (POC) and those leading the BLM movement. A black square was posted to signify participation and solidarity with this cause.

I’ll be honest with you, I spent hours staring at my Instagram feed and clicking on all those black squares, reading what other users with large audiences were saying, just trying to figure out if this was something I should be joining in on. I simultaneously felt guilt, pressure and a genuine desire to take some action. I wondered if I didn’t join in, would I be labelled as racist? Apathetic? Selfish? Would people judge me? I believe black lives matter. I know there is deep inequality and injustice in our world, especially when it comes to race. I didn’t realise just how deep it went though, until recently. I want to be part of changing that, somehow. But I wasn’t sure if ‘muting’ myself in this public manner was a helpful or performative thing to do. I felt conflicted, but in the end, I posted my black square with the caption:

“I am ignorant. Stories are powerful. I am trying to listen. Join me? #blackouttuesday #indigenouslivesmatter #itsreconciliationweek #thisdoesntfeellikeenough

But then what? I felt like an ally and a fraud all mixed up into one. I still haven’t posted anything since. It feels so insincere to go back to ‘normal’ when this is far from over. I desire to have a meaningful impact in this space, not just a performative one. But here’s the thing: I don’t know how to. I am ignorant, uneducated and live in a white, Christian, middle-class bubble of privilege.

I did do what I said I would. I listened. I took screenshots and I clicked on links, I bookmarked books to read, saved videos and ‘care’ reacted to many statuses on Facebook on the matter. I follow some indigenous social media accounts now, too. My feed is looking slightly less white. The reality is though, I haven’t had mental space or energy to investigate all these resources in detail. I am only now slowly starting to look into them. Simply knowing these resources exist isn’t enough though, neither is only looking at them once and then moving on. I know I am yet to take meaningful action. For that, I am sorry. I’m sorry I’ve gone nearly twenty eight years without caring. I’m sorry that I haven’t even taken much action at all in these times of crisis.

But this isn’t about me. This is about the lives and privileges that POC all over the world- including in Australia’s own backyard- have lost. I know a black square isn’t enough- as someone with a platform, and as a human being. So the purpose of this post is to pledge to change the way I live, speak, think and minister and to encourage whoever reads this to join me in learning, listening and growing. The focus of this blog is Australia’s First Nations people as we share this place we call home.

I would encourage you to listen to them, above me or any other white person. No matter how well intentioned, I for one am still an ignorant white lady! I know so very, very little of our history and the present experience of our first people. That is why most of the following content is simply links and information about Indigenous run organisations, books and events. We must firstly, listen. To the right voices. But before that, I want to pledge four ways in which I will change the way I live, as inspired by the BLM movement, and I invite you to think about these things for yourself, too.

  1. I pledge to seek to understand what Jesus-justice looks like for myself, to better understand what the gospel means for racial inequality, politics and social change. I don’t know enough.
  2. I pledge to purchase more ethically manufactured and environmentally friendly products and less stuff from an unknown or unethical source. The fashion industry in particular disproportionately exploits POC, and I am learning that environmental racism is a very real issue.
  3. I pledge to continue learning and taking action, even when the news and social media forget about racial inequality.
  4. I pledge to learn how to include First Nation women in the work of The Grace Spot in appropriate ways (advice is very much welcome on this topic!)

Enough about me! The following are some of the helpful resources I’ve found over the last few weeks relating to Australia’s First People. Many thanks to the individuals, businesses, churches and influencers who brought these to my attention. Without them being thrown in front of my eyes, I would have no clue of their existence. Isn’t that sad? So, this is my attempt at being somewhat helpful in exposing you to these resources, too. I pray to God that they can change us all for the better.

BOOKS by Indigenous Australian authors

List provided by the wonderful Pauline from Riverbend Books

PICTURE BOOKS

Little Bird’s Day – Sally Morgan; illus. Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-little-bir…

Respect – Aunty Fay Muir; Sue Lawson; illus. Lisa Kennedy  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-respect

Family – Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson; illus. Jasmine Seymour  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-family–2 

Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines – Jasmine Seymour; illus. Leanne Mulgo Watson  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-cooee-mitt…

Wilam: A Birrarung Story – Aunty Joy Murphy; Andrew Kelly; illus. Lisa Kennedy https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-wilam-a-bi…

Mum’s Elephant – Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keefe; illus. Christina Booth https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-mum-s-elep…

Baby Business – Jasmine Seymour –https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-baby-busin…

No Way Yirrikipayi! – written and illustrated by students from Melville Island with Alison Lester. https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-no-way-yir…

I Saw, We Saw (Djamarrkuli’wu Yolgnumurru Dhäruk) by Yolgnu students at Nhulunbuy Primary School  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/picture-books-hardbac…

Coming Home to Country – Bronwyn Bancroft  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-coming-hom…

Our Home, Our Country – Adam Briggs  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-our-home-o…

My Culture and Me – Gregg Driese  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/reference-my-culture-…

Tell em!- Katrina Germein; R. Sullivan; illus. Karen Briggs https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/3-5-yrs-picture-books…

JUNIOR READS

Sister Heart by Sally Morgan (author of My Place) – suitable for 10+ https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/middle-school-ages-11…

Finding our Heart: A Book about the Uluru statement for Young Australians Thomas Mayor https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-finding-ou…

Young Dark Emu: A Truer History – Bruce Pascoe https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/history-young-dark-em…

Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories – Helen Milroy https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-wombat-mud…

My Place for Younger Readers – Sally Morgan  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-my-place-fo…

Who Am I – My Australian Story – Anita Heiss https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/history-who-am-i-my-a…

My Australian Story: Our Race for Reconciliation – Anita Heiss https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/history-my-australian…

My Girragundji – Meme McDonald; Boori Monty Pryor https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-my-girragu…

Nginingawila Ngirramini – Tiwi College Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrar https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-nginingawi…

Black Cockatoo – Carl Merrison; Hakea Hustler  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-black-cock…

Shallow in the Deep End – Tiwi College Al Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/5-8-yrs-shallow-in-th…

YOUNG ADULTS READS

Shauna’s Great Expectations – Kathleen Loughnan https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-shauna-s…

Catching Teller Crow – Ambelin Kwaymullina & Ezekiel Kwaymullina https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-catching…

Ghost Bird – Lisa Fuller – https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-ghost-bi…

Songs That Sound Like Blood – Jared Thomas https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-songs-th…

Swallow The Air by Tara June Winch https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-swallow-the-a…

My Father’s Shadow – Jannali Jones –https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-my-fathe…

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf – Ambelin Kwaymullina https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-the-inte…

My Place – Sally Morgan – https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-my-place–3

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia – Anita Heiss –https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/culture-and-society-g…

Meet Me at the Intersection (anthology) https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/short-stories-meet-me…

Welcome to Country (Youth Edition) An Introduction to our First Peoples for Young Australians – Marcia Langton  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/reference-welcome-to-…

Becoming Kirralee Lewis – Jane Harrison https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/teen-ages-15-becoming…

Living on Stolen Land – Ambelin Kwaymullina https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-living-on-…

Two Ways Strong – the Deadly Mob from Concordia https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/indigenous-two-ways-s…

ADULT FICTION

The Old Lie – Claire G. Coleman  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-the-old-lie–…


Terra Nullius – Claire G. Coleman  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/science-fiction-terra…

The Yield – Tara June Winch – https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-the-yield–14

Homeland Calling – Words from a New Generation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voices Ellen Van Neeren (editor) https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/poetry-homeland-calli…

Throat – Ellen Van Neeren  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/poetry-throat–8

Too Much Lip – Melissa Lucashenko  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-too-much-lip-…

The White Girl – Tony Birch  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-the-white-gir…

Taboo – Kim Scott https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-taboo–53


Blakwork – Alison Whittaker https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/poetry-blak-work–14

The Drover’s Wife – Leah Purcell https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/fiction-the-drover-s-…

Dancing Home – Paul Collis https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/crime-dancing-home

NON-FICTION ADULT

Not Just Black and White – Lesley & Tammy Williams https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-not-just-bl…

Salt : Selected Essays and Stories – Bruce Pascoe https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/essays-salt-selected-…

Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture – Bruce Pascoe  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/history-dark-emu-abor…

Talking to My Country – Stan Grant –https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/culture-and-society-t…

Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music – Archie Roach https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-tell-me-why…

Born Again Blakfella – Jack Charles  https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-jack-charle… (pb due in August)

Top End Girl – Miranda Tapsell https://store.riverbendbooks.com.au/p/biography-top-end-gir…

Other helpful resources include…

The Final Quarter (Adam Goodes Documentary) https://thefinalquarterfilm.com.au/

Common Grace (Christian ministry) https://www.commongrace.org.au/

Healing Foundation https://healingfoundation.org.au/

Clothing The Gap https://clothingthegap.com.au/

Clothing The Gap have created an Australian BLM action and resources sharing document for all to access. It is practical and detailed. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cb1EnggTx4-bEA7OcDsSmw6YdKC-pWkqSwlzgvRYkG4/edit

SBS National Indigenous Television https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/

Please, share more helpful resources in the comments section and let’s encourage each other to never forget this time in history, and help each other love better.

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