As Australians watch violent protests in America, two University of Wollongong academics have reminded people to look in their own backyard to see examples of systematic racism and injustice.
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Yorta Yorta woman and lecturer Summer Finlay said the outpouring of support from Australians about the plight of African Americans was positive but she was frustrated by people's lack of understanding that Aboriginal people suffer the same oppression.
This comes on the back of discussions following George Floyd's murder at the hands of Minneapolis police, which sparked widespread violent riots in the United States, as people of colour fight for justice, equality and an end to police brutality.
"Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, there has been 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people die in custody," Ms Finlay said.
"That is a phenomenal number. We do not see the same outpouring here for Aboriginal deaths in custody as what we see for this particular event in America.
"People have been campaigning for the Royal Commission recommendations to be implemented. But nobody has been listening.
"This has not been a popular conversation for Australians."
Ms Finlay said it was the responsibility of white Australians to educate themselves and reflect on their own views about racism.
"Sometimes it is hard to see what is happening in your own backyard," she said. "Sometimes it is hard to think about, as individuals, how we are contributing to a situation that is causing deaths in custody or causing discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"We need to see significant systemic and institutional change and that can only happen when non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people stand with us; understand what is going on and recognise that the systems and structures are set up to benefit them.
"They are the ones who need to dismantle those systems and structures."
Wollongong Aboriginal elder Richard Davis said he would like to Australian governments stand up and have a tougher response for police officers who were violent towards Indigenous people.
"We can get our voices across through sticking together, protesting and keeping the issues on the table," he said. "Something has got to give. In today's times, you don't think people would still be murdered or police would act the way they do.
"I know police officers have a job to do but surely there must be a better way they can be educated on how to arrest people."
UOW Aboriginal PostDoctoral Research Fellow Dr Marlene Longbottom said to be an ally of Indigenous people was to "listen, be present and not assume you are the knower".
Ms Finlay said the onus was on non-Aboriginal people to have an uncomfortable moment where they reflect on their own behaviour or challenge a family member about their beliefs.
"It is also important for non-Aboriginal people to understand that questions about racism overburden Aboriginal people, because we are not only living it on a day-to-day basis, but there is an expectation from white society that we will educate them," Dr Longbottom said.
"White allies' jobs are to seek out literature from Aboriginal writers.
"When we look at the US, we have to see ourselves in that discussion because Australia is not innocent.
"There is so much systemic and individualised racism that goes on in this country."
When we look at the US, we have to see ourselves in that discussion because Australia is not innocent.
- Dr Marlene Longbottom
Dr Longbottom said Australia's history was important factor when considering systemic racism, including Federation which was a "racist policy that excluded Aboriginal people and pushed them onto reserves and missions".
"Racism can be experienced at the interpersonal level, for example where security guards follow around people with darker skin in shopping centres," she said.
"Also Aboriginal people are caught up in the court system for minor issues and spend time in prison rather than being given community-based alternatives.
"They are caught up in a system that will continue to perpetrate violence on their body.
"Aboriginal children are also over-represented in the child protection system."
Ms Finlay added that the Uluru Statement's, which sets out a path for the country where Indigenous people's voices can be heard on issues that affect them, was an important step along with establishing a treaty and having a truth-telling process.
"This country is willfully blind to its own history," she said. "We need to get on the record the what has happened in this country post-colonisation so that we can understand why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the way we are."