GROWING up as an Indigenous woman in Whitton and Leeton, Linda Burney knows what it is like to experience racism.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is not something she remembers most about her childhood and school years in the area, but stamping out racism is something she is passionate about to this day.
Ms Burney is now a federal politician, in fact she was the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the federal House of Representatives in 2016. She has also been a politician at a state level.
She has been watching on with both interest and compassion as the Black Lives Matter movement and protests grow in voice and stature each day in recent weeks.
These protests have now given a big voice to Australia's own issues, largely the number of Indigenous people who have died while in custody.
MORE NEWS
"The issue of Aboriginal deaths in custody has come onto the agenda and I suspect it wouldn't have if it had not been for the Black Lives Matter movement," she said.
"It's important that we capture that as much as possible and have the conversations that have been wanting to be had in Australia for a very long time."
Thousands of Australians participated in their own protests across the country on the weekend as they again try to change the attitudes of those in power, as well as members of the wider community towards Indigenous people.
Ms Burney said all Australians could help make a difference in their everyday lives.
"I think the most important thing is people inform themselves," she said.
"Knowledge is power and to really just look inside yourself and ask the question 'do I have pre-judged stereotypes'?"
Ms Burney said she certainly experienced racism growing up in Whitton and Leeton.
"Mostly, taunts from other children," she said.
"I saw institutional racism.
"The Aboriginal settlement at Wattle Hill.
"That was shanties.
"That wasn't even proper houses.
"There was certainly institutional and systemic racism, particularly in terms of life outcomes and choices."
The big questions is, will racism ever be completely stamped out to avoid any further prejudice.
It's a question Ms Burney said she has thought about often.
"I've thought often about whether it (racism) is a human condition ... when you look back through history and time it doesn't matter what part of human history, there is always a group that sees themselves as 'dominant' or 'better'," Ms Burney said.
"I actually think it has been around in one way or another for a very long time. It's not a new phenomena.
"I would like to think we can get rid of it, but I think it is a monumental cultural and societal change that needs to happen."
Ms Burney would like to see a national truth-telling process established where Australia's past and history is acknowledged, taught, respected and learned about.
"That's where everyone knows what the truth is ... it's not about blame or guilt, it's just understanding that this is the reality of our nation," she said.
"This is the story of our nation ... that to me is the game-changer."