In the Secret River, many of the new settlers hated the aboriginals just purely because they were not like them at all. Their skin colour was different and the way of style was far different from them and because of this, they massacred and drove away the aboriginals from their homes. In the real world, similar cases occur, with powerful organisations killing each other due to difference in beliefs and races. I think this is pure childish acts and people should start thinking not only for themselves but for other people as well.
This picture shows us four friends from different cultural backgrounds. Their faces show no hatred towards each other – just happiness and joy. Yes, people have differences, with physical attributes being one of the most obvious of all, but like these kids, I’m sure there is a way for all of us to understand each other and not worry about the differences we have with another person.

Picture Taken From:
http://c2workshop.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55002645d8834010535984bd6970b-800wi

Colonisation - Invasion

This picture represents the Aboriginals’ way of life and what they went through when the English arrived, much like in The Secret River. The top half of the picture shows how the Aboriginals went about their lives when performing the simplest of tasks, such as hunting their food. Blackwood attempts to understand this and learn of the culture of the Aboriginals in The Secret River. Yet further down in the picture shows what happens when the English settle in the land of Australia. Much like in The Secret River the English did not know the native Aboriginals and therefore became afraid of them. In their fear they attempted to wipe them out in the most brutal ways, such as shooting them (see right). Much like Smasher Sullivan in The Secret River. He fears the Aboriginals and therefore attacks them. This picture shows the impact the English have on the native land and the disturbance they cause when they settle in a new land.

By Nick

Slavery

This is a cartoon depicting the American civil war, which was about the use of African Americans as slaves, back in the 1860’s. Although Australia was not involved in the war, our ideas were the same.

We both thought of the white people of our countries as ‘superior’, and of the ‘blacks’ as low in society, and wild people, who didn’t fit in with our way of life. Both America and Australia treated ‘black’ people very badly, but in the years to come, thoughts on different races have changed, and we now accept all people as ‘equals’, with equal rights, with respect to their cultures.

By Steph