Reviews

Another Day in the Colony by Chelsea Watego

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curatoriallyyours's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Let me preface my review by stating that I am a white Australian of European descent, so I am not the intended audience of this book, which is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. That being said, I do have some thoughts about this book. I broadly agreed with and appreciated the perspective of the author on a number of matters she raised in this book. I did, however, find some of her stances problematic but presented in a way that implied they were somewhat universal, which I don’t believe they are. I also feel that if you have to explain the nuance of the difference between your opinion and that of Andrew Bolt because you’ve ultimately come to the same conclusion (see p164), it’s probably not the nuanced difference you think it is. I don’t doubt that the author’s experience of being Aboriginal in Queensland has been difficult to say the least, but I also don’t think that experience can be extrapolated to the experience of all Aboriginal people around the country, though there would, of course, be some overlap. Her stance on “ambiguous indigenous” people seems pretty harsh to me, and the way she spoke about nihilism as superior to hope seemed to belittle people who chose hope, which would likely include a lot of Aboriginal elders, so I wondered if she might be speaking out of turn. Over all, I’m glad I read this book but it didn’t meet my expectations.

bethanybaggins's review

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

An excellent read exploring race and racism in the settler colonial state that is Australia. Don't let the fact that this is a book of essays put you off, the writing is super accesible.

vivieeeeeeenn's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Crucial reading. I expect that I’ll be coming back to this book, and redigesting the chapter titled ‘Fuck Hope’ in particular.

wapisiw's review

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“Because hope is just a matter of holding on - it does not give oxygen to your lungs, it just stops the water from entering them, and as a long-term strategy it is bound to kill you. To emerge from that water, to take a breath, is to be sovereign.”

mandz00's review against another edition

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challenging informative

4.0

tanzipanzi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

Such an important perspective that needs to be more widely understood. I appreciated that this book was not written for or to White Australians, but I think that makes it all the more relevant and pertinent that they do read it and understand the experience of living in colonised Australia as an First Nations person. This collection of essays covers a range of experiences, including Watego's experience with identity, working as an Indigenous academic in Indigenous health, and the racism and censorship associated with the publishing industry. I would recommend this book to all those living in Australia.

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