A Boy's Short Life

The story of Warren Braedon/Louis Johnson

Published by UWA Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

He never knew his name, he never knew his mother, he never knew his family, he never knew his people, he never knew his country. Born Alice Springs, 4th January, 1973, murdered Perth, 4th January, 1992 ... because he was black. Louis St John Johnson, born Warren Braedon into a Luritja and Arrernte family, was taken from his mother in Alice Springs at just three months old. Despite growing up with the love and care of his adoptive family, Louis was increasingly targeted by school bullies and police for his Aboriginality, and his attempts to find his natural family in Alice Springs were thwarted by bureaucracy. Walking home on his nineteenth birthday, Louis was brutally murdered by a group of white youths ‘because he was black’. This story captures the dark heart of racism in modern Australia, and the history, government policies and community attitudes that marked this boy out for a short life.

About The Author

Anna Haebich is a multi-award winning author, known for her passion for research that pushes into new territories. She has researched and written about many Aboriginal topics and experiences from the past and present. Her insights are shaped by her experiences of living in Nyungar country with her partner, elder Darryl Kickett, and by her varied career in writing, visual arts practice, university research, and community engagement. Anna has received numerous honours and recognitions for her contributions. She is a Fellow of two Australian learned academies and member of university centres in Australia and Germany. She is currently a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University.

Product Details

  • Publisher: UWA Publishing (December 1, 2013)
  • Length: 130 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781742585079

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