Published in Overland Issue 239 Winter 2020 · Poetry 2019 Oodgeroo Noonuccal winner: Black child Jeanine Leane Black child — born deviant from norms of western culture. Dispossessed like a refugee in a sea of white divisiveness where cognitive capabilities are measured on a colour scale according to my phenotypic reality. My Blackness — marked already by your history. So much so that you know all about me before I am even born. Black child — thwarted by ingrained white perception. My life not yet lived, but my existence already theorized by my Black skin. Black child — born already labelled — swimming from the womb against currents of conformity. Black cross in white box records my existence in the nation — statistically tracked from birth to death captive of the white square mentality. My Blackness — already confined by your colonial chains redefined by white rhetoric. Identity already ascribed from above by a raceless ruling elite. Read the rest of Overland 239 If you enjoyed this piece, buy the issue Or subscribe and receive four brilliant issues for a year Jeanine Leane Jeanine Leane belongs to the Wiradjuri people from the Murrumbidgee river. She is a poet, teacher, author and essayist who is well published in the areas of Aboriginal writing, writing difference and literary criticism. More by Jeanine Leane › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 6 November 20246 November 2024 · Poetry TV Times Kate Lilley I try out for Can Can after school / knowing I’m not cut out for the high kicks / Ballads chansons show tunes ok / I can belt out Judy Garland and all the songs from Oliver / “Who Will Buy”/”As Long as He Needs Me” / Wher-e-e-e-ere is love 25 October 20244 November 2024 · Poetry Phar Lap Ender Başkan we have a horse in our shed dad look dad me and gabe are feeding him grass he likes grass he eats grass and chaff dad gabe said his name is phar lap dad come on phar lap! i got some grass for yooooou!
