Black Lives Don’t Matter To Australia’s Wealthy White Boomers
The big question is why out-of-touch boomers are able to dictate public policy so often against young people's interests.
The recent Black Lives Matter protests have been a long overdue public awakening to how Black people in America and most other countries have been mistreated.
Social media has recently played a large part in bringing this awareness into people’s homes with shocking videos of racism and police brutality. Footage like George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police have gone viral, and has led to people of all colours and races uniting, and saying enough is enough in 2020.
This movement unlike others has been almost exclusively led by young people of Gen Y and Gen Z, and looks to be the zeitgeist of our era. For once the voices being heard are from young people and the actions being taken are by young people, re-energised and filled with ambition and hope.
Record numbers of protesters lined the streets of every state over the past few weeks in an amazing display of solidarity and justice. It truly seems that most Aussies are willing to see long overdue positive changes in society, especially for Indigenous peoples who have suffered for far too long.
It seems to be the perfect time for prominent members of our government to stand up, do the right thing and condemn the killing of black people — yet they just can’t seem to do so. Its funny to me how the government can critique China, Russia, Afghanistan within seconds, however when it comes to acknowledging the perceived effects of racism against Black people in our own country, they seem to go silent.
That makes me wonder that how is it that the people we voted in are so out of touch with the general public, and mostly shameless hypocrites.
I think of how Mathias Cormann, our Finance Minister, recently stated that the recent Black Lives Matter protests were incredibly selfish and incredibly self-indulgent. Funny he says that since he owns four investment properties in addition to his own home. Since Cormann feels entitled to comment on BLM, I am going to refute back by stating that having five properties is incredibly self-indulgent mate.
As an African Australian I was not surprised at all. This is coming from a bloke who moved to Australia from Belgium as an adult — what does he know about Black Lives in Australia? He sure as hell did not grow up here. This is also coming from the guy that shook hands with Fraser Anning just after his Final Solution speech in the Senate.
You can see why Cormann does not get Black Lives Matter, because quite simply Black lives do not matter to him.
Then again here lies the problem — as the average person in Australia does not know who really is hurting them, who is feeding them false information. Black Lives Matter was an iconic moment with peaceful protests all around the country and it helped renew national pride and vigour for the often aimless young generation of Aussies.
Inevitably the closet racists, spoon-fed a teaspoon of hate by Sky News, along with an existential fear of losing their privilege, would come out moaning like toddlers clutching their pearls, with the lamest excuses — like what about COVID 19? In their Anti-Black rage they conveniently ignoring that there was an anti 5G protest the week before in some states.
More importantly the protests came and went and are now in the history books. The protests won’t affect you in 2-3 weeks time, but Mathias Cormann, Josh Frydenberg and the Prime Minister’s $60 billion dollar fumble on JobKeeper will. Scomo might say we are all in this together but when the average Aussie political has over 2 properties to themselves they are simply lying to you and making themselves rich.
So, the real pain that the racists will feel in their everyday life will be brought on by people who look just like them. A sweet irony.
Things that matter more than Black Lives in so called Australia
1. NRL
2. that one Cook statue
3. Chris Lilley
4. White feelings— Blackfulla_Bookclub (@IndigenousX) June 14, 2020
Every other day you can expect to see an inflammatory, ignorant and quite simply out of date remark and comment trending on social media, said by a right winged boomer. Whether it’s Alan Jones, with his sexist comments on Julia Gillard, whether its Pauline Hanson with her hateful rhetoric against Muslims and Asian-Australians, or Peter Dutton enacting another policy to hurt refugees (while still allowing his au pairs special access into the country).
The fact that these relics of a dying generation and a declining demographic hold, and continue to hold such prominent positions in Australia, speak volumes to the facts that the everyday person is clueless as to how our country really operates.
I suggest everyone under the age of 35 go pick up a book called Game of Mates by Cameron Murray and Paul Frijters. They explain how Australia is really run in far better words than I could articulate in all aspects from pharmacies to unis to even super funds.
The big question is why out-of-touch boomers are able to dictate public policy so often against young people’s interests.
Legacy media shows such as Sunrise and the Today Show are notorious for playing both sides, where they will have, on one hand a great corporate social responsibility plan to show, and on the other hand they will provide a platform for hatred and controversy simply to get views and advertising ratings. Thank goodness the mainstream media is going the way of the boomer, straight to the graveyard. Poetic Justice.
Australia in 2020, where Aboriginal lives matter less than Captain Cook statues and *checks notes* the criteria by which Netflix Australia decides whether or not to take a show off its site…
— Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) June 12, 2020
My theory is that the young Aussies today are distracted and are ignoring crucial things that impede their financial and civil interests. In order to know why so much of the country is run the way it is you need to take a look into history. For example HECS fees only came in 1989, Joe Hockey former treasurer can be found on Youtube protesting against any fees on HECS back at uni. Imagine that happening today?
Australia has the potential to be better than ever, the future can be great but it lies on the hands of the Millennial and Gen Z to get the same energy with the Black Lives Matter protests the other week and campaign for our interests.
Go book a meeting with your local MP, ask them the tough questions and ask them why you should vote for them next time. Don’t be shy they work for you, you voted for them you are their boss, so let them know what you expect of them.
This is the best and most effective way to ensure people like Cormann don’t step out of line.
By the way, my local MP was at the Black Lives Matter protests. Change can come, but only if you act on it.
Moe Yousuf is perpetual traveller who enjoys sports and writing the eye opening article from an authentic and balanced Muslim, Black and Australian points of view He tweets at @six1money.