Whitefella Jump Up

The Shortest Way to Nationhood

By: Germaine Greer

Narrated by: Germaine Greer

In the third Quarterly Essay of 2003, Germaine Greer suggests that embracing Aboriginality is the only way Australia can fully imagine itself as a nation. In this sweeping and magisterial work, she looks at the interdependence of black and white and suggests not how the Aborigine question may be settled, but rather how a sense of being Aboriginal might save the soul of Australia. Touching on everything from Henry Lawson to multiculturalism, Greer argues that Australia must enter the Aboriginal "web of dreams".

©2003 Germaine Greer (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"[Whitefella Jump Up] is an essay about sitting down and thinking where all the politics start and what kind of legend Australia wants to place at its heart." (Peter Craven, The Age)

Sit on the ground and think

Germaine challenges us with a new way to view the past and an exciting possible way to view Australia going forward. I have always felt a spiritual connection to land in Australia. Germaine makes me think/dream/hope that someday maybe the original inhabitants of Australia will embrace me (and all Australians) into their fold so will find the wisdom we need in how to live with nature in the land we inhabit because of the folly of our ancestors.