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Period: to
Towards the 1967 Referendum
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Jim Crow laws in the USA
In 1876, after the American Civil War, most the southern states pasted anti-African American laws, which were enacted in 1890. These laws were racial segregation that discriminated against African Americans and restricted their presence in public schools and the use of facilities such as restaurants, theaters, hotels, cinemas and public baths. Means of transports were also segregated and in many states marriage between whites and African American people. -
Period: to
The Referendum of 1967
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Conference cont.
will raise our people to full citizen status and equality within the community." This event demonstrated the pain the Aborigines felt and how they had no reason to rejoice with the rest of Australia. Ultimately, these actions were a factor that played a part to the movement towards the referendum. -
Australian Aborigines Conference
On Wednesday, 26th January, 1938, the Aborigines held a day of mourning and protest. This day was chosen in particular as it was the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Australia. It was only for aborigines and persons of aboriginal blood to attend. They met in The Australian Hall, Sydney where they “appealed to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, and also asked for a new policy which -
Brown vs. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, a jury unanimously handed down the decision to make segregated schools unconstitutional. This meant that racial segregation became a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. The decision was a major milestone in the civil rights movement in America and the integration policy set the standard for nations across the developed world. -
Little Rock Nine
After the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954, public schools across the United States began desegregation, however, some schools were less cooperative than others. In Little Rock, Arkansas, the Little Rock School Board agreed to comply with the rulings of the high caught and as a result, the Superintendent of Schools, Virgil Blossom constructed a gradual integration plan. Nine African-Americans were enrolled in Little Rock High School and became the first African-Americans to graduate -
Federal council for aboriginal advancement petition
Petitioners were fighting for the rights of the aboriginals allowing them to be clothed, fed, housed and given such securities as are the people of all races who have come to live in this country. William Cooper collected 2000 signatures for a petition for aboriginal equality to be sent to the king. -
The Right to Vote
An Act to give to Aboriginal Natives of Australia the right to enrol and to vote as Electors of the Commonwealth was assented and voting for Aborigines commenced on the 18th June, 1962. Effectively, this Act was a stepping stone in the acquirement of rights for Aborigines. The ability to vote gave them the opportunity to choose who governed and made the decisions that would change their roles in society. -
Martin Luther's "I have a dream" speech
On October August 1963 Martin Luther the American civil rights activist delivered a speech to the 250,000 public civil rights supporters. In the speech he prays for a stop to Racism in the United States. The wrongs he set out to right were internal and shaming and the white American population soon realised the devastating affect it had on the African decent. -
Civil Rights Act passes through congress in the USA
In 1964, J. F. Kennedy pasted the Civil Rights Act through congress. This made segregation and discrimination illegal and gave African Americans the same employment opportunities as their suppressors. -
Student Action For Aborigines
Students from the University of Sydney decided on a plan of action. In February 1965, these students went on a ‘Freedom Ride.’ They organised a bus tour of western and coastal New South Wales towns in hopes of awakening the community to the reality of Australian racism.
This project did not have a major affect towards the movement of the referendum however, made people aware that change needed to occur. -
Constitiution Alteration
On 27 May 1967, Australians voted to change the constitution by removing certain phrases that discriminated against Aboriginal people. -
Constitution Alt cont.
These changes then became law when this Act gained royal assent on 10 August 1967. This federal referendum that was a major beginning in the integration of the Aborigines. Over the years, the Australian people were realising how important equality was in the community.
