Sam Watson (political activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Watson
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Watson in 2007
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| Born |
Samuel William Watson
16 November 1952 Queensland, Australia
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| Died | 27 November 2019 (aged 67) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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| Occupation | |
| Political party | Socialist Alliance |
| Partner(s) | Cathy |
| Children | 2, including Samuel Wagan Watson |
Samuel William Watson (born November 16, 1952 – died November 27, 2019), also known as Sammy Watson Jnr, was an important Aboriginal Australian activist. He worked to improve rights for Indigenous Australians from the 1970s until his death.
Sam Watson was a co-founder of the Australian Black Panther Party in the early 1970s. He also helped put into action the findings of a special investigation into the deaths of Aboriginal people in custody. Later in his life, he was a candidate for the Socialist Alliance political party.
Besides his activism, Watson was a talented writer and filmmaker. His 1990 novel, The Kadaitcha Sung, won awards.
Contents
Sam Watson's Life and Family
Sam Watson's grandfather, also named Sam Watson, was from the Birri Gubba nation. His grandfather worked hard to earn money. He used it to hire a lawyer. This lawyer helped him get free from the Aboriginal Protection Act 1869. This law controlled the lives of Aboriginal people. Sam Watson's grandfather was one of the first Aboriginal people to achieve this freedom.
Sam Watson's lifelong partner was Cathy. They had two children, including the well-known poet Samuel Wagan Watson. Sam Watson also had a grandson, known as Sam Watson the fifth.
Sam Watson's Activism and Career
Early Activism in the 1970s
Sam Watson started his work for Indigenous rights when he was only 16 years old. He helped hand out information for the 1967 referendum. This referendum was a big step for Aboriginal people's rights.
Watson believed in fighting for equality. He thought that the struggle for racial equality was also a struggle for fairness for all people.
He was also involved with the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. This was a protest camp set up in the 1970s. It aimed to bring attention to Aboriginal land rights and other issues. Watson was a spokesperson for the Embassy in its early days.
Founding the Black Panther Party in Australia
In 1971, Sam Watson and another activist, Denis Walker, started the Australian Black Panther Party. It was also called the Black Panther Party of Australia (Brisbane Chapter). Watson said it was for all people who were treated unfairly. He believed Aboriginal people were the most unfairly treated in Australia.
The party's goals were announced at a meeting in 1972. They wanted to work in a revolutionary way. Their aim was to achieve human rights for Aboriginal people. They also wanted to stop racism and unfair government policies. Watson said that many Indigenous Australians were inspired by the American Black Panther Party.
Watson also protested against the government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. He marched against the 1971 Springbok rugby tour. He also protested against the Vietnam War. He fought for civil liberties, which are basic rights and freedoms.
Working for Justice in the 1990s
In the early 1990s, Sam Watson worked at the Brisbane Aboriginal Legal Service. Here, he helped put into action the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This special investigation looked into why Aboriginal people were dying while in police custody. Watson's work helped to improve conditions and legal support for Indigenous people.
Political Involvement with Socialist Alliance
Sam Watson was a spokesperson for Indigenous rights for the Socialist Alliance. He ran as a candidate for this party in several elections. He ran in the 2004 and 2007 federal elections in Queensland. He also ran in the 2009 state election for the seat of South Brisbane. In 2010, he ran for the Senate in the federal election.
Other Activities and Contributions
Sam Watson was also well-known as a writer and filmmaker. His 1990 novel, The Kadaitcha Sung, is very famous. He also made a film called Black Man Down in 1995.
In 2009, Watson became a deputy director at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at the University of Queensland. He taught courses about Black Australian Literature.
In 2009, Watson and others spoke out against the supermarket chain Coles. They criticized Coles for naming a line of biscuits "Creole Creams". Coles later changed the name and packaging of the product.
Watson was also part of the group that helped create the First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) in 2012. This network supports Indigenous writers.
Recognition and Awards
Sam Watson received several awards for his work.
- In 1991, he won the National Indigenous Writer of the Year Award. This was for his novel The Kadaitcha Sung.
- His novel was also shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award.
- His essay, Blood on the Boundary, was highly praised in 2017. It was shortlisted for the Horne Prize. Judges described it as strong and even funny.
Death and Legacy
Sam Watson passed away in a hospital in Brisbane on November 27, 2019.
He is remembered as a very important person in the Brisbane activist community. Queensland's deputy premier, Jackie Trad, said that Watson made a huge difference. She said he helped advance the rights of Indigenous Australians for over half a century.
In July 2020, a special memorial was created for Watson. It was a mural painted in Bunyapa Park in Brisbane. The mural was painted by Kamilaroi street artist Warraba Weatherall.
Works
- Black Man Down, documentary film directed by Bill McCrow, April 1996
- The Kadaitcha Sung, Penguin Books, 1990
- Oodgeroo – Bloodline to Country, 2009
