Inherent Racial Bias Motif
There are some situations in the novel that are flat-out racisst. There are others that are really not, but are rather little insidious things that perpetuate racism and allow it to continue. One example of this is the football team manager's failure to give the MVP award to Dumby, who is the best player on the team, but will never be recognized as such. Whilst not outwardly racist - after all, he has kids from both communities on his team - the manager is still perpetuating a stereotype that the Aboriginal kids cannot be better at anything, or the star of the show, which allows this double standard to continue.
The Port Symbol
The Port is a whites-only community in the small town in which the novel is set. Coming from, or living at, The Port is a symbol of one's white heritage.
The Point Symbol
The Point is an Aborigine-only area of the small town in which the novel is set. Coming from, or living at, The Point, is a symbol of one's Aboriginal heritage.
Aborigine Symbol
To the racially-bigoted members of The Port community, being an indigenous person is a symbol of one's general lack of morality and failure to obey the law.
Attending Dumby's Funeral Symbol
Blacky decides to attend Dumby's funeral which is a symbol of his refusal to act like the rest of his community and also a symbol of his decision to try to stand up for what is right instead of going along with the status quo in the town.
