Human

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I am not Aboriginal. I am not Indigenous. I am not First Nations. We never called ourselves this, you did. I am Wik. Aborigine comes from the Latin words ab, meaning from, and origine, meaning beginning or origin. When the term was first introduced on our lands it was used to implement a genocide against the Original Peoples. It homogenised us. It helped build upon the myth that we were not in fact human. That we had no ownership to Countries that we had coexisted on for 50,000 years. A searing, thought-provoking analysis of Australian society, from Wik singer-songwriter Ziggy Ramo. Part memoir, part historical treatise, Human invites readers to confront the realities of colonisation and their own biases, dispelling the myths that this nation is built on. Unafraid of uncomfortable truths, Ziggy delivers an extraordinary survey of historic wrongs and present-day tragedies. From the Doctrine of Discovery, the frontier wars, Australia Day to Adam Goodes, Anzac Day and deaths in custody, he lays bare his most candid reflections on systemic racism. But this book is as personal and intimate as it is politically charged. Drawing on his own experience of what its like to grow up black in Australia, and stories from his family history, Ziggy puts a human face on the consequences of intergenerational trauma. Ultimately, this is a book that seeks to unite rather than divide. By denying the rights of the Original People of this nation, we deny our full humanity. A powerful call to arms, Human harnesses Ziggy Ramos spellbind ability as a storyteller to show the personal as political. Intimate and lyrical, this book will galvanise all who encounter it, and should be essential reading.

Author Bio

To say Ziggy Ramos voice is an important one in the Australian hip hop scene would be a gross understatement over a very short period its become as integral as peers like Briggs and Remi. At a time when artists like A. B. Original are (quite rightly) swinging sledgehammers in their efforts to expose Indigenous issues in this country, Ziggy is right there beside them with a cut-throat razor, slicing deep into the heart of race relations in modern Australia. Growing up in remote Arnhem Land, regional NSW, Sydney and Perth and with family connections in Far North Queensland, his voice whether through music or public speaking, addresses the silenced injustices of Aboriginal Australia as well as other social issues.