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Black and Blue

a memoir of racism and resilience
4.27 goodreads logo

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( 1,073 ratings, 144 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Black and Blue by Veronica Gorrie is a powerful memoir exploring the author's experiences as an Aboriginal woman in the Australian police force. It candidly addresses issues of systemic racism, personal struggle, and resilience. The narrative offers a unique perspective on societal structures, highlighting both the personal impacts and broader cultural implications.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring personal and social perspectives on law enforcement through the eyes of an Indigenous Australian woman. The memoir provides an insightful and powerful narrative that combines personal experiences with broader societal critiques, offering a unique look at the intersection of race, identity, and duty.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the 2022 Victorian Premier's Prize for Literature
Winner of the 2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Indigenous Writing
Shortlisted for the Douglas Stewart Prize for Nonfiction

The story of an Aboriginal woman who worked as a police officer and fought for justice both within and beyond the Australian police force.

A proud Gunai/Kurnai woman, Veronica Gorrie grew up dauntless, full of cheek and a fierce sense of justice. After watching her friends and family suffer under a deeply compromised law-enforcement system, Gorrie signed up for training to become one of a rare few Aboriginal police officers in Australia. In her ten years in the force, she witnessed appalling institutional racism and sexism, and fought past those things to provide courageous and compassionate service to civilians in need, many Aboriginal themselves.

With a great gift for storytelling and a wicked sense of humour, Gorrie frankly and movingly explores the impact of racism on her family and her life, the impact of intergenerational trauma resulting from cultural dispossession, and the inevitable difficulties of making her way in the white- and male-dominated workplace of the police force.

Black and Blue is a memoir of remarkable fortitude and resilience, told with wit, wisdom, and great heart.

'Loved it. I read it in one sitting - couldn't put it down. I thought of A.B. Facey as I read her astounding journey. What an incredible woman.'
- Melissa Lucashenko, Miles Franklin Award-winning author of Too Much Lip

'This is the read for Australia now ... it crackles with urgency. Honestly. I was left with a startling clarity after reading Black and Blue. This should be taught in schools, alongside the rest of our history.'
- Rick Morton, author of My Year of Living Vulnerably

'The power of storytelling is to share the lives of people who change the world. Ronnie Gorrie's journey as an Aboriginal woman shows the different levels of power in our country and is as radical as it is moving. A loving, affecting, and honest account of her life. Reading Ronnie's words is like hearing the yarn of a friend.'
- Nakkiah Lui

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925849240

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 316g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Veronica Gorrie is a Gunai/Kurnai woman who lives and writes in Victoria. Her first book, Black and Blue (2021), won the 2022 Victorian Premier's Prize for Literature and the 2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Indigenous Writing, as well as being shortlisted for the 2022 Douglas Stewart Prize for Nonfiction and the 2022 ABIA Small Publishers' Book of the Year. She is also the Executive Officer of the grassroots Aboriginal organisation Pay the Rent.

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