Black Joe by Henry Lawson (1907)
The novel revolves around the life of a young Aboriginal boy who is taken from his family and forced to work on a sheep station. He struggles with the harsh conditions and racism he faces, but also finds moments of kindness and connection with some of the white people he encounters. The story explores themes of identity, culture clash, and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous Australians.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1907 · Genre: Short Story, Australian Literature, Realism · 2,688 words
First lines
They called him Black Joe, and me White Joe, by way of distinction and for the convenience of his boss (my uncle), and my aunt, and mother; so, when we heard the cry of "Bla-a-ack Joe! " (the adjective drawn out until it became a screech, after several repetitions, and the "Joe" short and sharp) coming across the flat in a woman's voice, Joe knew that the missus wanted him at the house, to get wood or water, or mind the baby, and he kept carefully out of sight; he went at once when uncle called. And when we heard the cry of "Wh-i-i-te Joe! " which we did with difficulty and after several tries -- though Black Joe's ears were of the keenest -- we knew that I was overdue at home, or absent without leave, and was probably in for a warming, as the old folk called it. On some occasions I postponed the warming as long as my stomach held out, which was a good while in five-corner, native-cherry, or yam season -- but the warming was none the cooler for being postponed.
What this Textopian page supports
Black Joe is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Australian Literature, Realism, Colonial Literature, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 2,688 words
- Structure: 1 section, 35 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Black Joe by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Union Buries Its Dead by Henry Lawson
- A Rough Shed by Henry Lawson
- The Shearers Dream by Henry Lawson
- She Wouldnt Speak by Henry Lawson
- In A Wet Season by Henry Lawson
- Past Carin by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focuses on a specific period in the lives of the characters, typical of short stories.
- Australian Literature — The setting, characters, and cultural references are distinctly Australian, reflecting the country's rural life and indigenous culture.
- Realism — The story presents a realistic portrayal of life in rural Australia, with detailed descriptions of daily activities and social interactions.
- Colonial Literature — The narrative explores themes of colonialism, race relations, and the impact of European settlement on indigenous Australians.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Social Realism · Racism · Class Struggle · Poverty · Outback Life · Working Class · Labor Movement · Colonialism · Indigenous Australians · Exploitation