Strong and Smart is described by Dr Chris Sarra in Strong and Smart – Towards a Pedagogy for Emancipation. The book draws upon Roy Bhaskar’s theory of Critical Realism to demonstrate how Indigenous people have agency and can take control of their own emancipation. 

Dr Sarra calls for Indigenous Australians to radically transform and not simply reproduce the identity that Mainstream White Australia has sought to foster for them. He seeks to advance the novel position that it is OK to be other to White Australia. The question becomes, "which other?" The Indigenous Student should not be treated as the Feared and/or Despised Other, nor should they be coerced into wholly assimilating into White culture.

Sarra, C. (2011). Strong and Smart – Towards a Pedagogy for Emancipation: Education for first peoples. Oxon, UK: Routledge.