Bad Apples Analysis

I chose Briggs, who is an Indigenous hip hop artist, and his song, Bad Apples, because it intelligently highlights the misconceptions and racial stereotyping towards Indigenous Australians. The institutionalized racism that occurs throughout Australia has oppressed the youth of Indigenous Australia immensely. Briggs provides an alternate perspective to the audience, that perhaps the reason for the youth to be 'playing up', not going to school and being aggressive, is due to the anger caused by this oppression. David Holinsworth states, racism “is a concept which still has immense power to generate black hatred and oppression, and to produce intense emotions in people, whether they are the perpetrators or victims of racism” (Hollinsworth, 2006,

Briggs, a rapper I previously referred to, visited the prison to help the youth detained within. He is seen talking at the 3 minute mark around an Australian Indigenous tribe map and sharing stories with the Indigenous boys. Sharing identity, through stories of hardship, family, locality and other various means. At the 12 minute mark Briggs can be seen talking with a high security Indigenous boy from Taree, however, the boy has 'light' skin and hair. Wendy Holland states, “I contest the accepted view that there is such a thing as race and that identity is based on it. I make visible the ways of seeing that have positioned me as 'not quite not white'” (Holland, 2007, p. 86). Holland shares throughout her stories of a troublesome limbo area where her perceived identity from her appearance does not resemble her actual identity. She states she is neither here nor there, and questioned by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people of her actual identity, however, she is both. I can not assume this boys heritage, though I can not help but see some resemblance as the boy appears to be in a similar setting as Holland, in regards to physical appearance. He may experience similar struggles, he may not. What I do know from this unit is, that identity and in particular Indigenous identity is shaped by the individual, and by their story, regardless of

Now I understand the meaning of the sun, the red earth and the black representing the Indigenous people upon that earth. It is rich with cultural meaning and owes respect to Indigenous culture and connection to land. The sun is what grows plants, the ocean algae and is an overall bringer of life. (Bell, 2014) This unit has brought an understanding to myself, that the sun is of huge importance in Indigenous Australian history and culture. Furthermore, the land is of utmost importance to Indigenous Australians too, as they are care takers of the land, and the land provides us with food, water and resources to survive. Sustainability is at the forefront of my learning within Indigenous culture, and with that brings the Indigenous people walking upon the land, the black section of the flag. From 'Contextualizing Indigenous Australia', I now understand the importance to Indigenous Australians nomadic lifestyle, and how they would change and move with the flow of food and resources. To not over fish, or over pick and over hunt a certain area in order to sustain life for the future. The flag is a truly powerful image after learning from this unit, as is Indigenous culture