Charles Perkins: Background and Early Life
Charles Perkins
By: Christopher Wenas 10HISA
Background and early life
Charles Perkins was an aboriginal and was born at around 1936-1937. He had 11 brothers and sisters. His full name is Charles Nelson Perkins; his parents were from 2 different tribes, the Kalkadoo (his father) and Arrernte (his mother). On 23 September 1961, he married a woman called Eileen Munchenberg
In his early life, Charles Perkins was the first aboriginal to make it through university. He was also one of Australia’s most controversial indigenous leaders.
His political actions
One of his most famous political actions was taken during the Freedom. A bus trip around New South Wales in which he was one of the key members. Perkins had tried to enter a pool at Moree, which was barred off from aboriginals by the local council for 40 years, but was denied access. In response, the riders faced several hundred white Australian residents and were pelted by eggs and tomatoes. With the support of many citizens, the council was eventually forced to remove the ban. This act however, was later reversed and once again, they protested.
In 1967 there was a referendum deciding whether aboriginals could have a fair say and the right to vote. Perkins was leading the aboriginals and manager of the foundation of aboriginal affairs. Due the strength of this foundation, it accumulated many ‘Yes’ votes and after the votes were counted, the ‘yes’ votes had dominated with 90.77% voting ‘Yes’.
He also commented during May 2000 that the Australian rugby and the Australian football league were racist to the highest manner and level.
Consequences of his political decisions
After the Freedom Ride, many aboriginals themselves described them to only have stirred up some trouble afterwards and had left the people of the towns to deal with the aftermath. Another consequence of this trip was of Charles Perkins’s emergence as the national leader of
By: Christopher Wenas 10HISA
Background and early life
Charles Perkins was an aboriginal and was born at around 1936-1937. He had 11 brothers and sisters. His full name is Charles Nelson Perkins; his parents were from 2 different tribes, the Kalkadoo (his father) and Arrernte (his mother). On 23 September 1961, he married a woman called Eileen Munchenberg
In his early life, Charles Perkins was the first aboriginal to make it through university. He was also one of Australia’s most controversial indigenous leaders.
His political actions
One of his most famous political actions was taken during the Freedom. A bus trip around New South Wales in which he was one of the key members. Perkins had tried to enter a pool at Moree, which was barred off from aboriginals by the local council for 40 years, but was denied access. In response, the riders faced several hundred white Australian residents and were pelted by eggs and tomatoes. With the support of many citizens, the council was eventually forced to remove the ban. This act however, was later reversed and once again, they protested.
In 1967 there was a referendum deciding whether aboriginals could have a fair say and the right to vote. Perkins was leading the aboriginals and manager of the foundation of aboriginal affairs. Due the strength of this foundation, it accumulated many ‘Yes’ votes and after the votes were counted, the ‘yes’ votes had dominated with 90.77% voting ‘Yes’.
He also commented during May 2000 that the Australian rugby and the Australian football league were racist to the highest manner and level.
Consequences of his political decisions
After the Freedom Ride, many aboriginals themselves described them to only have stirred up some trouble afterwards and had left the people of the towns to deal with the aftermath. Another consequence of this trip was of Charles Perkins’s emergence as the national leader of
Bibliography: Skwirk.com.au/…/Charles-Perkins indigenousrights.net.au/person.asp?pID=983 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Perkins