The term ‘Blak’ traces its origins back to 1994, attributed to the creative vision of Aboriginal artist, broadcaster and political activist, Destiny Deacon. Destiny was an influential figure in the art world, sought to reclaim and redefine the word ‘black’ from the derogatory labels and misrepresentations imposed by non-Indigenous people.
This reclamation was a bold assertion of Aboriginal identity, distinct from the coloniser’s narrow and often negative portrayal of Aboriginal Australians.
You may have seen it and not understood why a lot of Aboriginal people use the term, so I thought I’d share more about it.
