Footballer-turned-boxer-turned-rapper Anthony Mundine burns a photo of Prime Minister John Howard as well as the Union Jack in his first music video.
The video for 'Platinum Ryder' was filmed at The Block in the Sydney suburb of Redfern. The indigenous rapper enlisted the help of indigenous residents of The Block for the video, in which they throw the Union Jack and images of Howard into a barrel of flames.The video, Mundine claims, is a call to peace, and is not intended to spark more race riots. The Block at Redfern was the stage for riots in February 2004, after the local indigenous community attacked police in retaliation for the police chase death of a 17-year-old boy.
In the song, Mundine takes aim at the Australian government for not apologising to the stolen generation. The burning of the Union Jack would suggest Mundine blames British colonialism for the current plight of the indigenous community.
"This ain't being racist ... it's the politicians that are keeping us oppressed, not the public," Mundine said.
"It signifies politicians and the Government and its foundations. What they have done to my people in the past and what they are still doing today.
"The Union Jack, that's the Government, that's what it was built on and it's a symbol of oppression. It's a fight for justice, we have to stand up and be counted."
