Sykes, Bobbi (1943–)

views updated

Sykes, Bobbi (1943–)

Australian poet and Aboriginal-rights activist. Name variations: Roberta Sykes. Born 1943 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

Was 1st Aborigine to receive PhD from Harvard and 1st Aboriginal columnist of Nation Review; participated in Aborigine movement, co-founded Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service, and became first secretary of Aboriginal Tent Embassy representing Aboriginal land claims; also co-founded Black Women's Action Group; writings include Love Poems and Other Revolutionary Actions (1979), Snake Cradle (1997), Snake Dancing (1998), and Snake Circle (2001); nonfiction includes Black Power in Australia (1975), Incentive, Achievement and Community (1986), Black Majority (1989), Eclipse (1996). Awarded Australian Human Rights Medal (1994).