Am I Black Enough For You? by Anita HeissMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
For non-Aboriginals, Anita Heiss adds a new dimension to the understanding of just what "Aboriginal" means to those who identify as such. As a Kiwi, I saw many of the same kinds of criticism (not black enough) levelled against those who identified as Maori if they didn't "look" Maori. The simple fact is, in a multi-cultural and multi-dimensional country, people of mixed race are the norm, and it is - and should be - their prerogative as to how they identify. The detractors, who intimate that identification is reward/financially based, would do well to delve into their own genealogy. They may be surprised at what they discover.
At the heart of the book is the story of the court case against Andrew Bolt for his racist remarks criticising Heiss for identifying as Aboriginal because, according to Bolt, this "helped her career". As the reader becomes enmeshed in Heiss' childhood, adolescence and beyond, it is clear to see that Heiss did not ever need to "decide" to identify as Aboriginal - she IS Aboriginal, and no amount of spin by people like Bolt can change that.
Heiss writes clearly and with feeling. Her descriptive passages based on her childhood memories are endearing, and her recollections of past activist activities encourage further research by the reader. She has been and is a role model not just for young Aboriginals but for anyone wishing to advance in a difficult environment.
This book does much to bridge yet another gap in comprehension of the difficulties of being judged on appearances alone.
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