Cartoonist Bill Leak caused controversy last week when The Australian published one of his cartoons portraying an Aboriginal man as an alcoholic and unable to remember his son’s name.
Bill Leak's cartoon is certainly a talking point today. https://t.co/s46MirH9oC pic.twitter.com/Ui07M7EwSO
— Australian Opinion (@AusOpinion) August 4, 2016
But this isn’t the first time Bill Leak has published racist cartoons – he also caused controversy in the past with these offensive works.
The Australian defended its decision to publish the cartoon, with editor-in-chief Paul Whittaker releasing a statement saying that it has long been a publication that analyses crucial issues in Indigenous affairs.
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“Too often, too many people skirt around the root causes and tough issues. But not everyone. Bill Leak’s confronting and insightful cartoons force people to examine the core issues in a way that sometimes reporting and analysis can fail to do.”
However the public was outraged by the stereotyping portrayed by the cartoon, and Indigenous people have come forward to celebrate and defend their dads by creating the hashtag, #Indigenousdads. Here are some of our favourite posts that show the love and sense of community that is part of Aboriginal culture:
He never missed a netball game, cried when I got As & always makes sure to tell me he loves me #Indigenousdads pic.twitter.com/SVpmG8DEco
— Laura Murphy-Oates (@lauramoates) August 7, 2016
I always felt so blessed to have an amazing dad ❤ there are heaps of them #Indigenousdads pic.twitter.com/RgvInNNt3v
— Amy McQuire (@amymcquire) August 6, 2016
#IndigenousDads can't take his eyes off his baby girl 💜 pic.twitter.com/pS9LCtMqVD
— Jane Cattermole (@janecat60) August 6, 2016
#IndigenousDads showing lil Andre how to prepare dinner pic.twitter.com/qT3OocCWjF
— Jane Cattermole (@janecat60) August 6, 2016
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Our Pa, who taught us Dreamtime stories, art, dance and most of all, pride in Aboriginal culture #indigenousdads pic.twitter.com/UIE9EHYThL
— Kirsty Brown (@callmeKBro) August 6, 2016
My dad's all sorts of awesome! #indigenousdads pic.twitter.com/S731q66n7z
— LaVonne Bobongie (@_LaVonne_) August 6, 2016
The hashtag is a perfect example of how to counter hate with love, while still proving your point.
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