The exploitation and suffering of Aboriginal peoples in Australia has a long and tragic history that predates the 1930s. However, during that time, pseudo-scientific ideas contributed to the marginalization and mistreatment of Indigenous Australians.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, various pseudo-scientific theories, including notions of racial superiority and the idea of the "dying race," were prevalent. These ideas were often used to justify colonization and the dispossession of Aboriginal lands. The belief in the inferiority of Indigenous peoples led to policies that sought to assimilate Aboriginal Australians into European culture, often through violent means, including forced removals from their families and lands.
In the 1930s, this pseudo-scientific racism was still influential, contributing to the continuation of discriminatory practices. Aboriginal Australians faced significant hardships, including loss of land, cultural disintegration, and systemic discrimination. The effects of these policies and attitudes are still felt today, and Indigenous communities continue to advocate for recognition, rights, and reparative measures.
The struggle for justice and acknowledgment of past wrongs continues as Aboriginal peoples seek to reclaim their rights, culture, and connection to the land, combating the lingering impacts of colonialism and exploitation.