IND/'Black Armband History' and the 'History Wars'

Despite the overwhelming evidence, some commentators (primarily non-specialists, journalists and politicians) still deny the history of the Stolen Generations. One such commentator is Keith Windschuttle, who is also well known for claiming that massacres on the colonial frontier were nothing but a ‘myth’. Former Prime Minister John Howard suggested that writing on these subjects was ‘black armband history’.

Some have claimed that the removal of children was never official government policy, although this is clearly documented in the Protection Legislation which we examined last week and in the policies proclaimed by various Protection Boards and Chief Protectors of Aborigines. Others have claimed that Aboriginal children were only removed ‘for their own good’, that their lives were improved by their removal. The attempts to deny these histories led to what has been termed the ‘history wars’.

It is important to remember that ‘denials’ of this kind are usually made by people who are ignorant of the extent and nature of the evidence relating to these events.

Further readings on the ‘history wars’ are contained in the Reference list at the end of this Topic.