Deadly Unna and Redfern at Night

The novel, “Deadly Unna?� By Phillip Gwynne and the poem “Redfern at Night� Stephen Clayton both explore the idea of discrimination which exists between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Both texts discuss the racial discrimination which has built up over generations due to the cultural assumptions held by members of both the Aboriginal and white communities and examine the tension which exists between the Aboriginal and white communities. This tension ultimately leads to conflict between the two races. Both texts show how the lack of understanding between two cultures creates a basic distrust between blacks and whites and often leads to a tragic outcome. However, the final conclusions of “Deadly Unna� and “Redfern at Night� are quite different.
“Deadly Unna� and “Redfern at Night� both examine the divisions which exist between the black and white communities, inevitably leading to discrimination. The Aborigines in “Deadly Unna� are separate to the whites in many instances in the novel, due to the cultural differences and their position in society. For example, the novel is set in recent times on a peninsula in South Australia. Blacky and his family live in the 'the Port' where the whites, or G

Deadly Unna is seen through the eyes of the narrator, the main character Blacky, who is a 14 year old boy growing up in a white community who discriminates against Aborigines. It is through his experiences that the reader gains an understanding of the relationships and discrimination which exist. At first Blacky accepts the attitudes presented by the whites, but as his friendship develops with the Aborigine, Dumby Red, he gains a greater insight into the prejudices which have created incorrect assumptions about the Aborigines.

In “Deadly Unna” the underlying assumptions held by the white community about Aborigines are challenged whereas in “Redfern at Night” these assumptions are reinforced and accepted. In “Deadly Unna” Blacky matures and begins to question the accepted assumptions which he has come to believe to be true about the Aboriginal community. Blacky comes to recognise that Dumby’s family is a close knit family compared to his family which is basically dysfunctional. Attending the funeral of Dumby Red, despite the objections of his family and friends, Blacky comes to the realisation that the rumours of “the first thing Nungas do when they move into a new house is to rip the doors off the hinges and smash all the windows” are untrue. This shows a development in the character of Blacky as well as allowing Gwynne (author) to question the cultural assumptions and stereotypes held about the Aborigines. However in “Redfern at Night”, the stereotypes of the black community are accepted and not challenged. The situation presented of the hatred of blacks and whites in Redfern has existed for generations and the lack of understanding seems to be a vicious cycle reinforced by the prejudice of the whites. “Anger fills his mind, hatred in his heart, the bastards keep on hitting because he is dark”