Book review: What you ought to know about this stolen child, storyteller and leader
I was lucky to see Archie Roach AM at a sold-out concert the week I finished reading his memoir Tell Me Why: The story of my life and my music.
His book was published by Simon & Schuster Australia in 2019 and is a companion to the music star’s new album and tour.
However, I listened to the audiobook version, read by Roach, which won the Australian Book Industry Awards 2021 Audiobook of the Year.
So let’s jump into what Tell Me Why is about, what makes it interesting and what we can learn to help our own life-story creating …
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What Tell Me Why is all about
The 384-page Tell Me Why starts when Roach is in class at high school and his name is called over the speakers to come to the office.
He then learns about parents and siblings he didn’t know existed. And questions everything about his happy upbringing with a foster family in Victoria, Australia.
Next, a teenage Roach takes off to Sydney to find his sister but falls into alcoholism.
However, after some years, he meets the love of his life Ruby Hunter. And together they start a family, stop drinking and turn to making music.
“Mum and Dad Cox cherished me. They had given me all the opportunities they could, but there was always a restlessness in me, like a fault line waiting to rupture. They never understood that, but how could they? If I could have stayed I would have, but my spirit was stirring. I needed to find out who I was, who my family was.”
What makes the book so interesting?
Roach recounts some of the amazing experiences he has had, including: boxing for Billy Leach, recording with musician Paul Kelly, marching in the 1988 Bicentenary Protest, accepting ARIA awards, and performing at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
However, I believe the most striking aspect of Tell Me Why was learning that Roach, like many Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, did not initially realise they were part of what would become known as the Stolen Generations.
In short, this was the forced removal of thousands of children from their families over many decades by governments, welfare bodies and churches. (For more see the Bringing them Home Report).
But on a brighter note, it was interesting to discover that many of Roach’s songs have their roots in his own memories or others’ life stories.
“When I first started penning songs, I wrote about what had happened to me and to my people. But then other people would come up to me, non-Indigenous people, and say, ‘That’s what happened to me.’ Now my songwriting feels more inclusive, more universal in its sentiments. I have come to realise that it’s about all of us – you can’t really write about yourself without including everyone. What affects you invariably affects others as well.”
What can we learn from Tell Me Why?
Firstly, Roach shows us how to write about difficult and painful topics (such as addiction, crime, death, grief and cancer) with self-awareness, vulnerability and truth.
In addition, he explains that different places and Country stir up forgotten memories for himself and others.
And, in Ruby’s case, reportedly surfaced genetic memories from thousands of years ago.
Finally, Roach highlights why life stories are so important for our identities and family.
Indeed, he did not know his parents but values enormously the stories others have told him about them.
“It was a very moving experience, and I was left with mixed emotions. It had taken me over fifty years to find more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that was my life. In one way I felt more complete, but it also left me feeling sad that I had never known my father. I should have known him. I should have known his story without having to search for all those years.”
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Final say: Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why: The story of my life and my music by Archie Roach is about finding family, music and purpose.
Certainly, it is sad and confronting in parts, however, overall it offers an undeniable message of hope and love.
Indeed this too was the overwhelming feeling of the crowd when I saw Roach receive a standing ovation after a recent performance.
So I encourage you to also see him live or, next best, listen to his audiobook.
Happy writing and listening!
*Please note: If you are affected by this story and want to seek assistance, see: 1800RESPECT, Kids Help Line, Lifeline, Beyondblue.
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Your say
Roach cherishes the few stories he was told about the parents he never met. Do you have a memory of a parent you would like to share? I always love hearing from different people. Drop me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
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