* Stolen generation –with kay getting taken away by the government. * 1967 referendum- counted in the census so there should be equality but theres not still as seen in the bar at the talent show. Them not winning, people leaving when there singing. Taxi. Maybe the tappware party * Vietnam- the aboriginals and the black solider in the helicoopperter.

Sapphires essay
Rights were a massive issue in the 1968. There were major event all around the world to do with rights but many people over look Australia. In Australia people were still furious over the stolen generation and the effects, and even though the 1967 referendum allowed aboriginals to be counted in the national census, there was still great disprove of aboriginals. The sapphires does accurately reflect the social and political issues of the time. Through the stolen generation, 1967 referendum and the war in Vietnam you see that laws are one thing but acceptance is another. The sapphires shows that there was many social and political issues at that time.
One major political and social issue is the treatment of the aboriginals by the white people. Even with the 1967 referendum which allowed aboriginals be counted in the national census, you would think that aboriginals would be treated better. But they didn’t and you see this when the three girls go to the talent show. When they first enter everyone stares at them, looking at them like there from another planet. Then again when they start singing and the people get up and leave. But it goes on because at the end of the show some girl who can’t sing gets first place even though the girls are better. This is a prime example of the treatment of aboriginals at that time. It shows that people still think of them as a lesser race to the white people. It shows that even with new laws they still aren’t accepted. Another example is when Cynthia and Gail try to get a taxi into the town. And when one does come it drives straight past them. This also shows that the aboriginals weren’t liked.
Another major political and social issue is the stolen generation. This is a major issues shown in the film and it tells the stories of Kay. Kay used to live in the tribe with the other 3 sister. But got taken away by the government when she was young because she was pale compared to the others. The stolen generation is one of the massive things to happen in Australian history and it fits in very well with the movie. A lot of young kids have been taken away from the families for generations to ‘breed the colour out if them’. But with the film it shows what effects the stolen generation it had on the child. In the film use also see a lot of tension between Cynthia and Kay because of the stolen generation and for the fact that Kay almost became ‘white’ in a way. It also reflects on the government, the effects of the child and the families and the aftermath of the stolen generation. The final political and social issue is probably one of the biggest. It’s the treatment of all black people worldwide. We know that they were mistreated and not conceded equal at this time in 1968. Even with all the right acts, voting acts, and the referendums black people were being mistreated. And we see this in the film when the sapphires go over to Vietnam. It’s a very small seen but it’s when they are in the helicopter and they are escaping from the army base and there’s and wounded white solider in there as well. The black solider goes to help them but then the wounded soliders says ‘get your hands off me”. This shows the mistreatment of black people across the world. It shows that this kind of political and social issue is seen everywhere in the world.
In conclusion in the era of the Sapphires had horrific times from the stolen generation, to the war in Vietnam and the mistreatment of aboriginals and black people across the world. This film shows great inequality and mistreatment but does reflect the social and political issues of the time. It also shows that laws are one thing but acceptance is another.