South Sudanese Australian Mar Manasseh Riek looks back on a life-changing trip that started when he was just a boy. Having grown up in Australia, to him, children were children, they were just different shades of color. Upon doing so, he soon found that the experiences of these men differed dramatically depending on their race. At only seven or eight years old, Mar had to contend with the painful experience of being othered. At the same time, this experience deeply complicated and deepened his understanding of identity and belonging.
His experiences navigating life as a South Sudanese Australian led him to join a street gang at the age of 13. It was a decision born out of a wish to conform with other first-generation Australian children who were going through the same difficulties. Unfortunately, Mar’s time with the gang came to an end. He eventually found himself leaving later that same year, haunted in part by his experiences with this exclusion and subsequent violence. Today, Mar is devoted to promoting his cultural identity and fostering mutual respect and understanding between Australia’s diverse communities.
Early Life and Identity Struggles
Mar Manasseh Riek’s early life was characterized by a feeling of innocence. He argued that all children were in essence equal, sharing the same humanity, only separated by the miles of skin color. Yet, this image was quickly undercut by the stark realities he experienced as a young man when confronted by racism. He recalls clearly in Year 2 being prevented from playing football with his white Australian peers. For many African American children, this incident was a jolting crash course on the harmful and lasting impacts of racial segregation and exclusion.
As Mar grew older, he began to identify the xenophobic experiences he’d faced. He saw it happening to other people from culturally diverse backgrounds like him all over Australia. The realization that society often perceived him differently based on his ethnicity deeply impacted his self-image and sense of belonging. Even amidst this harrowing context, Mar proudly professes his identity as a South Sudanese Australian.
Gang Involvement and Departure
From age 13 onward, Mar became a member of a predominately first-generation Australian youth street gang fubished mainly from the suburbs residents. The gang provided a sense of camaraderie and belonging that he sought amid the difficulties of fitting into mainstream Australian society. Despite his meaningful contributions, Dopp’s time with the gang was marked by struggles that would eventually force his exit.
One important reason that drove Mar to leave the gang was its exclusionary policy and practices. He found that though the gang was racially inclusive in accepting recruits of other races, it functionally barred Africans from entering the gang. This hit on a fundamental level with Mar, causing him to rethink his membership in the organization.
The terrible death of two friends in 2025 became the last straw for Mar. Yet their violent deaths affected him profoundly. This experience further fueled his belief that the life of a gang member was a life he did not want to further pursue. That violence and danger from those connections became too overwhelming. He chose to change what had been the negative trajectory of his life.
Celebrating Culture and Building Community
Today, Mar Manasseh Riek prides himself on his cultural heritage and the achievements of fellow South Sudanese Australians across various fields. In particular he draws on their legacy of groundbreaking achievements in sports, activism & political advocacy. These achievements encourage him to continue to push for more visibility and understanding of the South Sudanese community in Australia.
Mar points out that honoring South Sudanese culture, with traditional dances, language, and cuisine, is key to their creative practice. He finds that these things enhance social cohesion within communities and nurture civic pride among citizens. His pride in his Australian-Sudanese accent shows that he fully intends to own, encompass, and celebrate both sides of his identity.
Mar not only encourages cultural pride, but challenges people to engage genuinely with South Sudanese Australian communities. She feels no one should rush to come to conclusions without real engagement. He is convinced that understanding and empathy can fight stereotypes and make society more inclusive. Through sharing Mar’s powerful journey and advocating for widespread change, Mar’s goal is to inspire others who experience the same struggles.
