Perkins, Charles Nelson

Perkins, Charles Nelson
▪ 2001

      Australian civil servant and activist (b. June 16, 1936, Alice Springs, N.Terr.—d. Oct. 18, 2000, Sydney, N.S.W.), was the first indigenous Australian to head a government department and the most influential figure in the Aboriginal fight for civil rights; he was often compared to U.S. civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Perkins began his struggle to publicize and address the unfair treatment of indigenous peoples in the mid-1960s, when he accompanied white students on “freedom rides” through the outback of New South Wales. The rides, inspired by similar activities in the U.S.'s segregated South, generated a great deal of publicity, as did a related effort to secure the right of Aboriginal children to swim in public pools in the town of Bourke. He devoted the rest of his life to the cause, becoming a lightning rod for controversy. A mixed-race Aboriginal, Perkins was sent at age 10 to a school for Aboriginal boys in Adelaide. His talent as an association football (soccer) player attracted the attention of clubs in the U.K., where he became the first Aboriginal to play professionally. He returned to Australia in 1959 and, six years later, became one of the first Australian Aboriginal university graduates when he earned an arts degree from the University of Sydney. That same year Perkins formed the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs, which was a driving force behind the campaign that helped pass a 1967 referendum that gave the federal government authority to legislate justice for Aboriginals. In 1969 Perkins joined the government's Aboriginal Affairs Department of Western Australia as a researcher, and he worked his way up to department secretary in 1984. Unlike most government officials, however, he continued his activist work and was sometimes criticized publicly by his own department. He was forced to resign his position in 1988 following a scandal involving the funding of an Aboriginal social club, but he was later cleared of any charges of wrongdoing. Although he was a member of the group that helped Sydney make its successful bid for the 2000 Olympic Games, he also used the Olympics to stage his last campaigns against racism, threatening that there could be widespread civil unrest among the Aboriginal population during the Games, though he later retracted his statements, which many considered inflammatory.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Charles Perkins — Charles Nelson Perkins (* 1936 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory; † 19. Oktober 2000 in Sydney) war ein politischer Aktivist der Aborigines, ein Footballspieler (Soccer) und Footballlehrer. Er war der erste Aborigine, der im Jahre 1965 in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Charles N. Perkins — This article is about the Australian aboriginal sports figure and activist. For other persons with this name, see Charles Perkins (disambiguation). Charles Perkins Charles Perkins, University of Sydney, approx 1965, as first Aboriginal Australian …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Miner Goodall — Captain Charles Miner Goodall (1824–1899) was born in England and was a California entrepreneur. Along with George Clement Perkins and Nelson founded the Pacific Coast Steam Ship Company. Goodall, Nelson and Perkins controlled much of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Perkins — /ˈpɜkənz/ (say perkuhnz) noun 1. Charles Nelson, 1936–2000, Australian public servant, consultant to governments, and activist for Indigenous rights. 2. Kieren John, born 1973, Australian middle and long distance swimmer; Olympic Games gold… …  

  • Charles B. Rangel — Charles B. Rangel …   Wikipedia

  • Charles II: The Power and The Passion — Directed by Joe Wright Produced by Kate Harw …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Grenzbach — Born December 29, 1923(1923 12 29) New York City, New York, United States Died March 29, 2004(2004 03 29) (aged 80) Palm Desert, California, United States Occupation Sound engineer …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Curtis — This article is about the former Vice President of the United States. For other uses, see Charles Curtis (disambiguation). Charles Curtis 31st Vice President of the United States …   Wikipedia

  • Charles A. Cook — For the North Carolina Supreme Court justice, see Charles A. Cooke. Charles A. Cook (died 18 March 1878) In Dec 6, 1859 he sold one half of original share in Town of Highland (share No. 22), drawn by George C. Nelson, etc. Later, he was the… …   Wikipedia

  • John Charles Fremon — John Charles Frémont John Charles Frémont (* 21. Januar 1813 in Savannah, Georgia; † 13. Juli 1890 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Entdecker und Politiker. Seine Vermessungsexpeditionen im Westen der Vereinigten Staaten brachten ihm… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”