‘Distasteful conversation’ gets perfect response from Indigenous Australian
Jarred Wall (R) bought tea for women he heard putting down Aboriginals. Photo: Facebook
An Indigenous Australian’s response to two ladies’ “distasteful conversation” about his people at a Perth cafe has gone viral.
Aboriginal man Jarred Wall was dining out for lunch with his partner and their two children when he noticed two elderly women next to him were speaking disparagingly about Indigenous Australians.
His response to the pair was “something nice” rather than “unleashing a tirade of abuse” toward the ladies.
Mr Wall decided to buy them a pot of tea.
“Food was great but to our misfortune we inadvertently heard two elderly ladies, seated next to us, chatting about aboriginals,” Mr Wall wrote with a picture of the bill for the complimentary tea.
“The conversation was less than distasteful with words like assimilation thrown around willy nilly. I could have unleashed a tirade of abuse but that wouldn’t have helped.
“Maybe these ladies will be a little wiser and think before they speak. Hopefully there won’t be a next time! #blacklivesmatter #englishbreakfasttea.”
The post has been shared almost 2,000 times of Facebook with 15,000 reactions and more than 1700 comments.
“Classy. Very classy Jared. Rise above ignorance,” Tasha Moon wrote.
Dianne Lawrence added: “Great response – more powerful than anger- ignorance is not acceptable in 2016 well done.”
Mr Wall’s story has been picked up by numerous news websites around the globe.
There were, as is customary with racist outrage, people who questioned Mr Wall taking offence at the incident.
“Since when has the word assimilation any[thing] to [do] with racism etc. More to point I think assimilation by you is the problem,” Morray King wrote.
Mr Wall was widely praised. Photo: Instagram
Indigenous affairs in Australia is always a hot-button topic, however it has been particularly combustible of late.
In July, ABC’s Four Corners program prompted a royal commission with its investigation into the treatment of Aboriginal youth at Darwin’s Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
Meanwhile debate continues about Aboriginal recognition in the constitution and whether a treaty with Indigenous Australians should be struck by the federal government.
