Joel talks about identity and skin colour (2:06)

Then to move on into high school, because that was sort of the end of primary school, moving on into high school, and there was a group of about ten Indigenous students that stuck together.  But they were all dark skinned and they – there was obviously half-caste there, but they were darker skinned than I, so I didn’t fit into that group either.  And I didn’t – and didn’t – and like because, I wear – wear the half-caste badge proud, I didn’t really fit into the white population.

So why didn’t you fit in either group?  Because is it about skin colour, or is it about something more than that? 

I – I think it was definitely about skin colour to start with because – and I’ve heard it before through, you know, my aunties and things like that, that they had always assumed the lighter the skin the better off you wer. You had it easier, you didn’t have to put up with the – the black racism that they had, that they felt – they felt that, you know, because of their skin colour they’ve had to deal with so much more and that you don’t understand what it’s like being a black man or a black woman.  You know, like, and they really attached to that – that blackness.  And I attached to that too, but just I’m not that skin colour, you know?  But, so, I think that was their point of view to start with.  And over the years we became – all became really good friends, and I think it was just an initial – and I think, also, because I tend to talk to females easier.  I have female friends.  And so once the – the Indigenous girls got to know me, we became good friends.  So, I’ve got a group of about ten girls that I’m talking to every day, and the boys are looking over at me going, “Who’s this – who’s this fellow?” you know?  So I think that was part of it too at the start was, you know, “This guy’s taking our women”.  But, you know, I’m still friends with so many of these people today, and one of them’s actually just moved to Darwin.