‘White Australia look like a bunch of southern crackers’: US reacts to Adam Goodes documentary

A documentary highlighting Adam Goodes’ battle with racism in Australia was shown in America on Thursday — and the reviews are in.

It challenged Australia when it premiered here last year and now the Adam Goodes documentary has given the United States an inside look at the battle against racism in another country.

After one of the most tumultuous months in the history of their country following the death of George Floyd, Americans were able to tune in to the story of the Sydney Swans footballer on sports network ESPN.

The Australian Dream focuses in part on Goodes’ final years in the AFL, when he was booed heavily and suffered racist jibes.

As it aired in the US, social media began filling with commentary about the plight of the indigenous star as Australia was cast in a troubling light to another part of the world.

“The Australian Dream is truly heart wrenching,” tweeted Ant Pierre. “Adam Goodes dealt with some truly awful individuals.”

“The treatment he received for being an indigenous Australian makes White Australia look like a bunch of southern crackers,” wrote BW Radley.

Jason Alston thought Goodes was treated worse than African-American quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was blackballed from the NFL after taking a stance against police brutality.

“Lawd yall … That’s why as much as I hate the USA’s racism, I don’t jive with ppl telling me the USA has the worst racial issues,” Alston wrote. “Adam Goodes has some parallels to Kaep, and it even seems like fewer ppl understood Goodes than Kaep.”

Adam Goodes. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images)

Ben Simmons was instrumental in getting the doco shown in the US. (AAP Image/Stefan Postles)

Australian basketballer Ben Simmons was an executive producer on the film and played a key role in having the film broadcast in America.

“It was really about how he carried himself and really opening people’s eyes about saying certain things during a game. No matter what it is, it is disrespectful,” Simmons told ESPN after joining the project last year.

“And everybody should be treated equally. … He was called a ‘monkey’ or ‘ape’ on social media for months. People booing him every time he touched the ball. He handled it. I got a lot of respect for Adam the way he handled it.”

Many other viewers were moved by what they saw.

I had @espn on & #TheAustralianDream came on. Incredible story fantastically told about Adam Goodes, an Australian rules football player who stood up to generational racism & imperialism, but paid a price for it. A lot of Australians still need to get on the right side of this.

— Ed Killer (@TCPalmEKiller) June 25, 2020

Adam Goodes doing aboriginal war cry tribute after he scored is one of the greatest sports moments ever!!!! I love this guy #TheAustralianDream this is an amazing story

— Joe D (@mryoki21) June 25, 2020

This Adam Goodes story is incredible. White fear and fragility is so real.

— Haylow (@Haylow) June 25, 2020

Watching The Australian Dream documentary about Adam Goodes is really opening my eyes about the sport and what he had to go through. His stand for his people should be recognized with open arms. Well done ESPN on this documentary. This is just beyond words mentality & emotionally

— Zachary Martin (@TheClevelandRoo) June 25, 2020

The @espn 30 for 30 “The Australian Dream” carries more weight today. The behavior of these people make me sick. Let me tell you Adam Goodes, there a MANY people here in the US, who still fully support you. Abolishing racism in Non-negotiable. #BLM

— Sultan Of Swat (@SultanOfClout) June 25, 2020

Just stumbled upon this Adam Goodes documentary.

ESPN needs to show it in prime time, if they haven’t already.

— Kory Keys (@KoryKeys) June 25, 2020

Adam Goodes and Lebron are the same people dam. What a documentary. Thanks @espn for this.

— BΔLO (@brunobaloo) June 25, 2020