Theories of Conflict Racial discrimination towards the aborigines in Australia seen through the conflict in Alice Nannup’s when the pelican laughed.
Members of groups are denied opportunities or reward for reasons unrelated to their capabilities, industry, and general
merit: they are judged solely on their membership of an identifiable group, which is erroneously thought to have racial
basis 2004:345.
John K. Roth in International Encyclopedia of Ethics states that there are two types of discrimination, legal discrimination and institutional
discrimination. He explains the definition of legal discrimination that is an “unequal treatment that sustained by law” 1995:231-232. The quotation
explains that legal discrimination is unequal treatment based on the law. According to Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton‟s Black
Power 1967 in International Encyclopedia of Ethics: Institutional discrimination is a subtle form of unequal treatment
based on race that is trenched in social custom that is, social institutions. Institutional discrimination may include segregated
housing patterns, redlining by financial institutions, and the practice of minority group members being forced continually
into low-paying jobs 1995:232.
The quotation above explains that institutional discrimination is unequal treatment based on race that happens in the society. The examples of
institutional discrimination are the separation of chair, bathroom, church, school, room, cinemas, and many others between Aborigines and white
people, and the wage for Aborigines is lower than the white people in the same kind of job.
In addition, according to Richard T. Schaefer and Robert P. Lamm in their book, Sociology, second edition, Institutional discrimination refers
to unequal treatment to person or groups which comes from society:
Discrimination is practiced not only by individuals in one-to-one encounters but also by institutions in their daily operations.
Institutional discrimination refers to the denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups which results from
the normal operation of a society 1986:230.
C.
Review of Racial Discrimination toward the Aborigines in Australia
The story of Aborigines dealing with racism is a well-known story. It is a real life event that Aborigines have to deal for many years. Many of
Aborigines struggle in their condition to oppose racial discrimination. Michael Haralambos and friend, in their book, Sociology themes and
perspective Australian edition, states that Aborigines in Australian have been subjected to racism for many years since the British came and declared
Australia as and inhabitants land as their subject 1996:652. From the same source as above, it states:
A policy of protectionism arose which sought to shelter Aboriginal people from outside influences by establishing Aboriginal reserves
under the control of missionaries and other Europeans. Many Aborigines were forcibly taken there, ostensibly for their own
protection. In these institutions Aborigines were denied many basic rights and freedoms 1996:652.
The quotation above explains a policy of protection is made by the white people who already take control Australia and make some shelter for the
Aborigines, pretending for the goodness of Aborigines. The real reason is the white people want Aboriginal people lose their own culture and become much
like white Australian as possible.
According to
Bamber Gascoigne
in his
website, http:www.historyworld.net, one of the shelters is Moore River Native
Settlement. The settlement was opened by the Government of Western Australian in 1918.Socially, Moore River Settlement practiced strict dormitory
system. The Aborigines cannot leave the settlement without permission from missionaries.
The Aboriginal children were often removed from their families and brought up by foster parents or in orphanages.
In 1905, “Aborigines Act” was enacted. The act legalised the removal of Aboriginal children from their
families Winch, Joan and Ken Hayward, 2007:6. In the same year with Moore River Native Settlement was opened, in 1918, the new policy that
forbids the Aborigines consume alcohol arose: In 1918, the Northern Territory Aboriginal Ordinance Act ensured
that Aboriginal people could not drink or possess or supply alcohol or methylated spirits Korff, Jens, 2000.
Michael Haralambos and friend‟s Sociology themes and perspective Australian edition 1996:652 writes that there is a segregation policy in the
society. Aborigines have separate hospital wards, or they cannot use swimming pools, nor have separate areas in cinema and bars if they were allowed in at all
1996:652.