It is ban-de-monium over at Facebook!
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| Photograph of Aboriginal people in chains with armed guards which sparked Facebook bans. The prisoners are barefoot wearing only loincloths while the guards are fully clothed with boots and wide brim hats. Each prison has a chain around their neck, which is connected to the next prisoner in line. The prisoners have their hands behind their backs, presumably also bound. In this version, the prisoners pelvic region is pixelated in the hope this will subdue the Facebook filter. |
So I'm resurrecting the old Skeptimite blog to try and mis-direct the very zealous AI that is already handing out suspensions for sharing the Guardian article "Facebook blocks and bans users for sharing Guardian article showing Aboriginal men in chains".
Yes, dear reader, people are getting banned for sharing an article about people getting banned for sharing this Guardian article "Facebook incorrectly removes picture of Aboriginal men in chains because of 'nudity'".
If you take a good look at the original photo in the article, you can see most of the men in the article are wearing nothing but loincloths! *faints*
Sure, they are showing nipples, but it's not such an outrage like if they were female nipples.
As you've no doubt realised already, the image is horrifying because of the human tragedy.
Out of curiosity, I found the original source of the photograph on the
State Library of Western Australia website. Click here to see. It is simply described as "Aboriginal prisoners in chains with police guards and tracker outside Roebourne Gaol."
While searching the online catalogue, I came across dozens of photographs of Indigenous people in chains and a great deal more of Aboriginal prisoners. The horror that first Australians faced is unimaginable.
My ancestors almost certainly participated in horrific acts against Indigenous Australians. As individuals I don't believe we inherit the sins of our fathers. However, as a nation we do need to acknowledge the worst parts of our heritage and that those actions have left scars on the culture and people descended from victims those crimes. Victims of the Stolen Generation are alive today and institutional racism continues to harm our first Australians. It's not my place to suggest a solution, except to plead that you listen to Indigenous voices.
I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge I live on the stolen lands of the Turrbal and Jagera people.
Finally, my friend R posted this on Facebook recently, and it seems an appropriate way to sign off:
White friends in Australia: what can we do to support Black Lives Matter? A LOT.
1. Follow and RT/repost/share Indigenous/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites and POC #amplifymelanatedvoices
Examples to start with: Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR; NITV; Black Feminist Ranter - Celeste Liddle; Feminism & Decolonisation; Ruby Hamad; Blackfulla Revolution; Beautiful, Talented & Deadly; Beautiful talented deadly 2.0; @nakkiahlui; @Briggs; @missmirandatap; Nadine Chemali; Jan Fran
2. Read widely on Black and blak experience, understand and challenge our own knowledge, do our own research, do NOT expect our Black, blak, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends to educate us. ESPECIALLY NOW. Pic of recommended starting books. Also support Aboriginal owned and led bookstore https://www.magabala.com/
3. Use that knowledge to challenge our white friends, family and connections. It is OUR JOB to take on our white folk.
4. Donate our funds to causes that are run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right now.
Go to @nakkiahlui’s thread for a list with direct links. Share her thread widely!
https://twitter.com/nakkiahlui/status/1268054603305648128…
LIST OF DIRECT FUNDRAISING LINKS FROM THE THREAD HERE:
https://gf.me/u/x5vfgn
https://gf.me/u/x6g3xm
https://gf.me/u/x35vxj
https://gf.me/u/x4tjih
https://gf.me/u/x3x2a4
https://www.alsnswact.org.au/donate
5. If you are physically able to, attend in person at local protests that are ORGANISED AND RUN BY ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE ONLY. Follow their instructions. Be silent and present to support and act as a physical barrier between them and police/other threat. It is not about us.
Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR are organising Brisbane & Melbourne. Follow them. https://www.facebook.com/WARcollective/
My Facebook crime? "Your post goes against our Community Standards nudity or sexual activity"
Perhaps someone can point out the nudity or sexual activity? Even in the unadulterated photograph no genitals were visible.
Bonus content:
When I was searching for the original source of the photograph, this came up on Google. They may to have a word with the folks at Pinterest about phrasing. "Best" is not the ideal choice I'd suggest.
Finally, my friend R posted this on Facebook recently, and it seems an appropriate way to sign off:
White friends in Australia: what can we do to support Black Lives Matter? A LOT.
1. Follow and RT/repost/share Indigenous/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites and POC #amplifymelanatedvoices
Examples to start with: Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR; NITV; Black Feminist Ranter - Celeste Liddle; Feminism & Decolonisation; Ruby Hamad; Blackfulla Revolution; Beautiful, Talented & Deadly; Beautiful talented deadly 2.0; @nakkiahlui; @Briggs; @missmirandatap; Nadine Chemali; Jan Fran
2. Read widely on Black and blak experience, understand and challenge our own knowledge, do our own research, do NOT expect our Black, blak, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends to educate us. ESPECIALLY NOW. Pic of recommended starting books. Also support Aboriginal owned and led bookstore https://www.magabala.com/
3. Use that knowledge to challenge our white friends, family and connections. It is OUR JOB to take on our white folk.
4. Donate our funds to causes that are run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right now.
Go to @nakkiahlui’s thread for a list with direct links. Share her thread widely!
https://twitter.com/nakkiahlui/status/1268054603305648128…
LIST OF DIRECT FUNDRAISING LINKS FROM THE THREAD HERE:
https://gf.me/u/x5vfgn
https://gf.me/u/x6g3xm
https://gf.me/u/x35vxj
https://gf.me/u/x4tjih
https://gf.me/u/x3x2a4
https://www.alsnswact.org.au/donate
5. If you are physically able to, attend in person at local protests that are ORGANISED AND RUN BY ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE ONLY. Follow their instructions. Be silent and present to support and act as a physical barrier between them and police/other threat. It is not about us.
Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR are organising Brisbane & Melbourne. Follow them. https://www.facebook.com/WARcollective/
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| Screenshot of tweet from @ReadingsBooks which says "An essential reading list of books to help you understand and fight white supremacy: bit.ly/3eFqYla" plus an image of 12 book covers. |
UPDATE
I have been blocked from Facebook for 1 day due to the pixelated picture in this post. I shared the first version of this R's Facebook post that I copied above and was instantly blocked.My Facebook crime? "Your post goes against our Community Standards nudity or sexual activity"
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| Screen shot of notice from Facebook, it reads ""Your post goes against our Community Standards nudity or sexual activity"" |
Do I disagree with this decision? Yes. Do I expect it to actually be reviewed? No. At this point, they have had plenty of time to sort out their algorithm.
I find it interesting that when the first story came out, I did this very bodgy edit on my phone, which Facebook hasn't reacted to at all.
Perhaps someone can point out the nudity or sexual activity? Even in the unadulterated photograph no genitals were visible.
Bonus content:
When I was searching for the original source of the photograph, this came up on Google. They may to have a word with the folks at Pinterest about phrasing. "Best" is not the ideal choice I'd suggest.
