Stolen generation

The landing of white man in Australia caused havoc for the first Aboriginal inhabitants of the land. For years the white society pushed and shoved the aboriginal culture and traditions out. Many of the universal declaration human rights were breached and ignored against the aboriginal people. One of the worst crimes that has stained Australia’s history would be the “ Stolen generation” this disgraceful event caused many social and physical problems for the children who were kidnapped. The policy of assimilation introduced in the 1950’s encouraged aboriginal people to ‘ act white, think white and even look white’. They used genocide during this time as the white society wanted nothing to do with the aboriginal people and saw them as foreign creatures to be excluded. In their attempt to slowly end the black aboriginal race, the Australian government ordered aboriginal half caste or mixed blood, to be taken from their mothers and thrown into orphanage homes. This policy’s major plan was to ‘ Europeanise’ the aboriginal culture with the white society, however this was a huge issue as nobody accepted black skin the population at the time simply was not ready for their arrival. Even though this policy brought help for the aboriginals, the plan failed as it meant that their traditional ways would eventually disappear. The aboriginal people were forced off the reserves and into town houses and cities, the unemployment and lack of and education limited them a sustainable job. The Racism and discrimination was a major problem for the aboriginal people as they were completely ignored and disrespected. Under this policy of assimilation half caste aboriginal children were stolen from their parents and taken into government funded homes where they were thought to live and act like white people. The children were taken away from their biological mother and either adopted into a white family or placed into an orphanage. The boys were sent to kinchella boys home and girls at Cootamundra, where conditions were tough for young children and the discipline was very strict. When the children reached 14 they were expected to leave and become farmers on pastoral properties where they were payed very low and often in food rations, leaving them with no income to support a life outside of farming. The girls were also expected to leave at the young age of 14 to become domestic servants where they too were payed very low and in rations. These children were not given a sufficient education and were often neglected living in these homes. Recent research has revealed confronting news that many of these young innocent children were sexually abused and physically assaulted, resulting in 13-14 year old children becoming pregnant. This is a clear example of how the right to an education, respect, unjust imprisonment and being born free and equal, were not being followed to the aboriginal society. Physiologically and socially the children were suffering by the policy of assimilation as they were forced away from their parents at an extremely young age. They struggled to fit into either culture as they were confused as to who they really are. The extremely poor records that were kept did little ro reunite families and this resulted in many of the stolen generation were not aboriginal in custom and were disowned due to their colour leading to a very difficult adult life. The disgraceful act of the stolen generation completely ruined the aboriginal race and stripped them of their roots. The boys and girls that were stolen were given a new name and birth date, completely detaching from their real identity as their native tongue, family members and life was completely stripped from them.