Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Black Soldier Blues (2004)

play
clip Aussie welcome

This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

African American ex-servicemen recall the friendliness of the Australians during the Second World War in Queensland. Frederick J Smith and Jay Crosby were intrigued by the ritual of teatime.

Curator’s notes

What is shocking to us now is the fact that one of the African American soldiers was shocked by being approached as an equal by a white Australian soldier, and what an impact this had.