If I was White
I could walk down the street
and people would pay no particular
attention to me.

It may not seem like much
but if you've ever had a
shopkeeper tell you to
buy something or move on, or
simply follow you around the shop,
it's significant.

If I was White 
people would speak to me.

Wouldn't you feel a little lonely
if you were the only White person
in a new classroom,
at a new school,
and nobody including the teacher
understood you or your culture?

If I was White
I would think like a White Person.

If I was White
I would believe myself to be equal 
to anyone.

If I was White
I would be less likely
to spend time behind bars.

If I was White
alot of the fights I've been in
would not have been my fault.

If I was White
I wouldn't have been
in so many fights.

If I was White
I would not be part
of the Stolen Generation.

If I was White
I would have been counted
in the Census since 1901.

If I was White
I could live, shop, and socialize
wherever I want.

If you walked into Real Estate
Agencies where houses and units
To Let  suddenly become Taken,
and just as suddenly become
Available  when you leave, then
you know what I am talking about.

If I was White
I would be accepted.

If I was White
I could group together
all the people who don't
look like me
into their own separate
communities.

If I was White
I could accept a life of privilege,
wealth, and power
that the exploitation of Black
People has brought me
Without even blinking.

If I was White
I could stand back,
walk on by, sit on the fence,
and do nothing. 

If I was White
I would think I have every right 
to be here.

If I was White
I would fit in.

If I was White
I would not have to live in a country
that hates me.

If I was White
I would have a country.

If I was White
I could say This land
has been in my family
for three generations.

If I was White
I could say My family
have lived on this land
for two hundred years.

If I was White
I could say My father worked hard
to buy this land.

If I was White
I could buy bandaids
the same colour as my skin.

What if all bandaids were black?

If I was White
and in an accident, I would be 
wrapped in white bandages.

If I was White
just think of all the names
I wouldn't have been called.

If namecalling does not seem
all that serious to you
then you haven't heard the names
I've been called.

If I was White
I wouldn't be asked if I was
Fullblood, Half-caste, or part White.

If I was White
I would not hear other White People
Say to me You don't look like you
have a lot of White in you, or 
You don't look White.

If I was White
my fair skin
would not be such an issue
with other White People.

If I was White
it would be okay
to claim to be White.

If I was White
I wouldn't have to claim to be White
just to get a job.

If I was White
I would be taken at my word.

Try accepting everything written 
here as being true
simply because I say it is.

If I was White
I could really identify with
Australian TV soaps.

If I was White
I could really identify with
Australian TV Advertising.

If I was White
popular Australian newspapers
would print what I want to read.

If you don't think so
then count how many Black People
appear in the weekend social
pages.

If I was White
I could go to Church
and Jesus Christ would
look like me.

Imagine Christ images all over the 
world being black.

If I was White
I would not have to be smart
to keep a good job.

If I was White
I would have more chance
of getting a job.

If I was White
I could wear a suit and tie
and not look suspicious.

If I was White
I could own a luxury vehicle
and not look suspicious.

If I was White
I could shop in luxury stores
and not look suspicious.

If I was White
I could walk
in a white neighbourhood
and not look suspicious.

If I was White
I could dye my hair blonde
and it would not look strange.

If I was White
I could have blue eyes
and it would not look strange.

If I was White
I could marry another White person
and it would not look strange.

If I was White
I would have a better chance 
of  becoming PM.

If I was White
I could write history
any way I please.

If I was White
Ignorance would be my excuse.

If I was White
I would have nothing to fear
from Police.

If I was White
I would not have to explain
the things I say.

If I was White
the world would make 
more sense to me.

If I was White
I could make believe
that Black people were evil.

If I was White
I could shelter my children from
the evil that exists in the world.

If I was White
I could lie to my children about
the evil that exists in the world.

But I am Black
and I am as misunderstood
as the next Blackfella

but I am beginning to understand 
the White Man.