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possible because of factionalism within Aboriginal society.
Fissures within Aboriginal society occur along a number of lines.
There is factionalism between one eroup and another in a particular
social context, between male and female groups, between those who
have ’passed’ and those who have always identified as Aborigines.
Chicka Dixon expresses concern about disunity and
factionalism:
If we could get the blacks together then we could
move on these issues. However these small groups
are a real problem, because one'of these groups will
go to the government and say ’We want this'. Ten
minutes later another group will come along and say
’No, we don’t want that, we want this,. This creates
chaos as far as the development of Aboriginal people is
concerned.
Another aspect of Aboriginal life which worries me is
the ’passing’ in Sydney. Some black might have married
a white fella and wanted to live in a certain area so
they try to pass for some other nationality. Now I
spit on these people. Their biggest fear is their black
relations who might come knocking on their door some
night. I feel disgust for these people who are not
proud of their ethnic origin (in Tatz, 1975:37-38).
There are splits between ’town' and ’reserve* Aborigines.
It’s a sad thing because there is a split between town
and reserve: there is too much jealousy and bitterness
which I don’t want to be part of. The only way this
situation can be solved is through the Aborigines
themselves. White society can’t do anymore because
it is an Aboriginal problem, black against black. Black
man is fighting against black, they're not really getting
anywhere but they're involved in bitterness and hate
(Marshall, in Tatz, ed., 1975:58).
There are splits between metropolitan Aborigines and those
in country towns.
The problem is identified by Vera Lovelock (in Tatz, ed.,
1975:61, 64, 65). It is elucidated still further by Gail Lovelock,
who differentiates between 'Sydney blacks' and lArmidale blacks’.
But I’ll tell you now, it's not going to be those
city blacks with their shouting and screaming - I 've
been through all that - it's going to he the people