My Place

My Place is a 1987 autobiography that follows Sally Morgan's journey to uncover her Aboriginal heritage and family history in Western Australia. The narrative centers on her life in Perth and her gradual realization that her understanding of her background was incomplete. Morgan documents her conversations with family members and her travels to significant locations including Corunna Downs Station. The book includes direct testimonies from her relatives, building a multi-generational account of their experiences and connections to country. Through personal research and family interviews, Morgan pieces together a complex history that had been deliberately obscured from her for much of her life. She encounters various obstacles and resistances as she works to document her family's past. The work stands as a landmark text in Aboriginal literature, addressing themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of Australia's policies toward Indigenous people. Its exploration of concealed family histories reflects broader patterns in Australian society and the lasting effects of systematic discrimination.

Readers emphasize the personal, intimate nature of Morgan's storytelling and her family's journey of discovering their Aboriginal heritage. Many note how the book opened their eyes to Australia's treatment of Indigenous people through individual experiences rather than dry historical accounts. Liked: - Conversational, accessible writing style - Multiple family perspectives across generations - Details of daily life in mid-1900s Australia - Educational value for understanding Aboriginal history Disliked: - Repetitive dialogue and scenes - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the writing overly simple - Limited historical context for international readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (100+ ratings) Common review quote: "Made me understand Aboriginal experiences in a way no textbook could" - multiple Goodreads reviewers Several teachers note using the book successfully with high school students, though some mention needing to provide additional historical background.

Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington The true story of three Aboriginal girls who escape from a settlement camp and walk 1,500 miles home across Western Australia reveals similar themes of displacement and Indigenous determination.

Plains of Promise by Alexis Wright The multi-generational narrative traces an Aboriginal family's experiences through Queensland's mission system and explores the hidden histories that shape their present lives.

Benang: From the Heart by Kim Scott A man investigates his complex family tree and Aboriginal ancestry in Western Australia while confronting the impacts of colonialism on his identity and community.

The Swan Book by Alexis Wright Set in a future Australia, this story follows an Aboriginal girl's journey through a changed landscape while maintaining connections to traditional knowledge and culture.

Is That You, Ruthie? by Ruth Hegarty The autobiography chronicles life in Queensland's Cherbourg Mission and parallels Morgan's examination of institutional control over Aboriginal lives and families.

🔸 The book spent over a year on Australia's bestseller list and has been translated into 13 languages, becoming one of the most widely read Indigenous Australian works. 🔸 Sally Morgan discovered her Aboriginal heritage at the age of 15 - until then, her mother had told her that their family was of Indian descent to protect them from discrimination. 🔸 The title "My Place" refers not only to Morgan's journey of self-discovery but also to the Aboriginal concept of connection to land and place as fundamental to identity. 🔸 Before writing this memoir, Morgan was already an established visual artist, and her paintings often explore similar themes of Aboriginal identity and connection to country. 🔸 The book's publication in 1987 coincided with Australia's bicentenary preparations, contributing significantly to national discussions about Indigenous rights and recognition.