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The Mulatto Is Proof Brazil Has No Racism. But Blacks Can't Accept That PDF Print E-mail
Written by Janer Cristaldo   
Friday, 08 December 2006 14:10

Zumbi, Brazil's black hero, a former slaveSay what you want about Marx, but we cannot deny that he was a visionary. He saw the universe of rich and poor of his time and in this dichotomy he found the foundations for his thinking. He gave them more grandiloquent names -  proletariat and bourgeoisie -  and devised the 19th century's bloodiest ideology, which resulted in no less than 100 million corpses in the following century.

Humankind recovered its mettle,  the Wall was brought down, the Soviet Union collapsed and communism became a cult reserved only to Third World islets. Workers realized that it was better to live peacefully with their bosses than to fight them. Since class struggle became demoralized the old apparatchiks felt unemployed. They had to devise a new struggle.

Any reader with access to newspapers' databanks will have an easy time checking this. From 1989 on, terms as proletariat and bourgeoisie started to wane in the news. At the same time, the incidence of words like racism, racist, racial hatred increased impressively.

They had no choice: either they created a new struggle or the old apparatchiks would have to starve to death. In this uncultured Brazil, which elected and re-elected an illiterate as president, these professionals, who only can find a shelter in countries that live on the tow of history, invested everything they had in the new struggle.

Senator Paim Filho, for example, restored the concept of race, a concept always denied by the black movements, with the intention of introducing a special ID for blacks.  As if it weren't enough, law 10,639 from 2003, introduced the Black Conscience Day and made this date a national holiday. The holiday had hardly been noticed until now because it has been falling on Saturdays and Sundays.

That being the case, only in the Year of Our Lord 2006 we ended up discovering that racism has been made official in Brazil. Black racism, naturally, because it would never occur to whites devise a White Conscience Day. And if they did it, they would immediately be charged in a court of law as racists.

There is little new information concerning this old story. But every time stupidity emerges, it urges to denounce it. The day is a homage to one of the symbols of the black resistance in the country: Zumbi of Palmares, who was beheaded on November 20, 1695.

Until very recently, the date celebrated by the blacks was the May 13, when, in 1988, princess Isabel decreed the slaves' liberation. This story of a white liberating blacks, moreover when she happened to be a princess, does not generate racial struggle.

It was necessary to find a black, preferably a martyr. It doesn't matter that the quilombos (a settlement of runaway African slaves) had their own white slaves. This information, however, has to be Stalisnistically erased from History. It's not proper for the image of a hero who is the liberator of blacks to have white slaves. 

On the other hand,  I can't see why we don't merge the big Black Parade to São Paulo's gay parades. After all, Zumbi was quite an aficionado of these unspeakable practices, as they were called at the time, so much so that it earned him the nickname Suequinha (little Swede girl).

About 12,00 people took part, recently, in the first Black Parade, on Paulista avenue, in downtown São Paulo. After the parade it was time for the 3rd March of the Black Conscience. The celebration is already taking place in 232 Brazilian municipalities.

Bank and post office branches remained closed in the municipalities that declared the date a holiday. Woe of those who one day may think of a white parade. They will immediately be anathematized and thrown into the racists, nazis and fascists black list.

This manifestation is good only for whipping up racism in the country. Of course, we will never have a Mulatto Conscience Day. The racist Black Brazilians, like the racist black Americans do not accept the mulatto idea.

To own up to the mulatto concept means to admit that in Brazil blacks and whites have miscegenated without big trouble, and means to say that in Brazil there is no racism, or at least the racism is not that pronounced. This fact is not useful to the old communists, always ensconced in the classes struggle archaic idea.

It is always good to remind that blacks in Brazil are less than 6% of the national population. Mulattos are 38%. Even the Supreme Ignoramus, president Lula, has already adopted the idea that these mulattos don't exist, and ended up selling Brazil as the world's second black country, right after Nigeria.

You may call November 20 what you wish. I'd rather call it Suequinha Day. Whoever wishes to brandish Zumbi as a black liberation hero, will also have to brandish other flags, which I doubt the whole small black population contingent will be brave enough to brandish.

Janer Cristaldo - he holds a Ph.D. from University of Paris, Sorbonne - is an author, translator, lawyer, philosopher and journalist and lives in São Paulo. His e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Translated from the Portuguese by Arlindo Silva.

Comments (167)Add Comment
Unfortunate
written by AP, December 08, 2006
You sound like white racists in America. How could you rise through academia to the level of P.H.D. and be so narrow-minded? Anyone outside of Brazil realizes that blacks get less respect than others in your country. Old-line white families control the land and economy, and this situation has resulted in unspeakable crimes against blacks and Indians throughout Brazil's history. Here in America, many whites on the right peddle the falsehood of a race-neutral society when nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Cristaldo if you are not aware of this reality, please take the time to educate yourself and bone up on history. Also, for your information, the major thrust of black liberation in America had nothing to do with communism. Tchau.
Ahh...ahhh...ahhh !
written by ch.c., December 08, 2006
Looks like that Cristaldo is NOT aware of the official stats.....provided by many Brazilian Government Administrations and Agencies !
Looks like too that he never went to the Northeast part of the country....but stay confortably in his priviledged secure community in SP !

Blacks are only 6 % in Brazil !!! What a joke ! Did he count the number of blacks...in his area....ONLY ???

Quite laughable his arguments when even the Health Minister recognizes that racism exist in Brazil. Racism also occurs at the
education or more precisely NO EDUCATION AT ALL....for blacks citizens. Racism too in the jobs availability and salaries !

In Europe, what Cristaldo is saying, could be easily sued and he would definitely go to jail and get a heavy fine !
Cristaldo's Argument is Piled High and Deep (PhD)
written by Knowledge Gangster, December 08, 2006
Janer Cristaldo, you truly have an invalid argument, completely depleted of real and sufficient data to support your claims in this article. Racism, bigotry, and racial prejudice are social elements for which you have not studied to qualify your article's argument and your position is flawed and baseless.

You do not have credible resources to express any real conclusions as to the conditions of Black people in the United States, and your knowledge of Black people in Brasilian is limited as well. There is absolutely no reasonable and logical conclusion to this obviously subjective, skewed and erroneous account of the state of racial affairs in Brazil.

Racism as an institution is racial prejudice and the power to influence the lives of, and inflict harm to, those with whom one race of people, as individuals or as a group,oppose at all levels and within the confines of society. This racial ideology is the influence promulgated by those of European descent - meaning white people - who believe and follow within the ideological guidelines of global white supremacy and racism.

Cristaldo can irresponsibly offer the reader this diatribe as a white supremacist, then tying in a geo-social-political rant without a basis from which to stand, by dragging Black people in America, but not those Black people in Europe, who also suffer from global white supremacy. Cristaldo does not include the Black people living in countries all across South America, who are suffering from racism.

Cristaldo is clear in his intent regarding the character assassination of Zumbi, which he vaguely and cowardly claims, has connections to Cristaldo's homosexual community. Any historian knows that notable or famous white male slave traders and owners, whether in politics or business, in any nation's history have contributed to the millions of accounts -known and unknown - of forced raped against both Black males, females, and including Black children. So much so, that just 126 years after the abolition of slavery in Brasil, these social and racial atrocities still occur, and undoubtedly something Cristaldo has participated in, or contributed to in some way, shape or form.

Racism is strong in Brasil and it is a reflection of a global white contempt and hatred toward a people who desire to be equal and eventually surpass racial oppression and exploitation that hinder and block real progress. This article, like many other "pro-white" and jealous, anti-Black diatribe, seems to be setting a precedent among whites who forsee a dim future for them when the majority of the people of the world (nonwhite) begin to take their rightful place at the dinner table of the world's nations - and not to watch the whites eat - but to dine in comfort as well.
The United States of Apartheid
written by Costinha, December 08, 2006
The land of the free unless of course you are…

Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, Jewish, female, gay, lesbian, non-republican, disabled, atheist, old, poor, middle class, undereducated, unattractive, live in certain zip codes, have ethnic sounding surnames, fall into lower tax brackets, of non-christian religion, not unionized, and have opinions contrary to popular attitude.

Nof said!
Re: The United States of Apartheid
written by Brazilian expat, December 09, 2006

The land of the free unless of course you are…

Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, Jewish, female, gay, lesbian, non-republican, disabled, atheist, old, poor, middle class, undereducated, unattractive, live in certain zip codes, have ethnic sounding surnames, fall into lower tax brackets, of non-christian religion, not unionized, and have opinions contrary to popular attitude.


Hmmm, not exactly. I am as brazilian as you (I guess you are brazilian) and I receive a much better treatment here than in my home country... actually, I think America is the de facto land of the free for all those groups you mentioned, except perhaps for caucasians... there simply are too many politicians wanting to take rights away from that ethnic group. And they keep getting it...
Thank you
written by A brazilian, December 09, 2006
It's nice to see that there are sane people in this country. This idiocy has gone too far.
The USA versus Brasil
written by carioCAO, December 09, 2006
I do not accept the premise of the discussions here… The USA versus Brasil. Both countries possess liabilities and assets as well. Opinions are abound while facts are few! However, the USA being the only superpower left on the planet I believe it holds higher responsibilities then any other nation.

Likewise, one must consider the question "Why does the world resent America?" Surely, success may be part of it but does not justify it all. Moreover, Americans can do little to reduce the hostility directed their way with their typical overwhelming “patriotism, self-righteousness and self-glorifying” approach. This can be extremely annoying at times… Almost like a buzzing mosquito when you are trying to sleep.

The resentment against Americans presumably will continue so al long as we face headlines such as: Nagasaki & Hiroshima, Biological Weapons, The Land Mine Treaty, The Arms Trade, Oil, Bush, Kyoto, Short Term Strategies & Long Term Suffering, Heavy Handed Commercial Aggression, Foreign Aid (USA Is Stingiest Of The 22 Most Developed Countries), Support Of Obnoxious Regimes, International Discord And Contempt Of The UN, Blind Support Of Israel While Ignoring Basic Needs Of Palestinians.. And On And On!

That said, until the time when the USA reconsiders many of its inhumane undefendable foreign policies of the past, I don’t see any improvement in the general international mood, do you?

Peace
...
written by Robbie, December 09, 2006
The only Americans that care if the world resents America are the liberal elite. The average American has no opinion on Brazil. He thinks of Carmen Miranda, Pele and Joe Carioca. In sixth grade we learned about South America. I went to a school not far from Knott´s Berry Farm. Up until then I just had a sense that there were people living somewhere south of San Bernardino County.....
...
written by igapó, December 09, 2006
There are few Brazilians in this board. The ones who insult calling us names are the American expats who live in Brasil. That is a disturbing thing, probably it is a pathogical issue they bring all the way to Brasil. Ameicans have responsability in the worlds scenary, but the ones who hang on this site really don't want to be part of anything, that is why I feel terrible about them. These people have such an irresponsible attitude towards everything. All I know is that I hated getting to know them.
...
written by igapó, December 09, 2006
Only the liberal elite? And where are you placed? Maybe that is right the average American have little opinion over Brazilians. All they know is the looks diet butt models poverty in Brazil etc

And about brazilian media, should I trust more in NYT or fox? Or in your opinions? How about your American pride? Is it hurt because brazilians consider the american pilots partially or totally responsible for the accident? Where is the intelligence and braveness of Americans? Just fiction really!



Janer Cristaldo, a gay gaucho expat
written by Sergio Soares, December 09, 2006
I think it is necessary to present some of Janer´s background here. He is know to be an Eurocentric, thinks Europe is the only civilized place on earth but It seems he was kicked out of France for overstaying his visa so he settled in São Paulo. He couldn´t go back to his native Rio Grande do Sul because of his sexual choices. Rio Grande do Sul is a macho place and it seems Cristaldo did not have a pleasent time there the last time he showed up in his leather outfit. It also seems that Cristaldo got a trauma from an oversized black c**k, when he was in a gay sauna in São Paulo. Said that, you might consider his views in a different perspective now.
...
written by igapó, December 09, 2006
I truely despise Americans, they are the only ones who show up in this site besides one or two brazilians.f**k you too.

...
written by e harmony, December 09, 2006
I don't agree with every sentiment of the author's article, however he raises some interesting points. Let me first off say I admire Zumbi from the little I have read of him, and I don't care what his sexual orientation was or his gender rolls in his sexual life. Fact is, few people in this world are perfect we only create the myth that they are. In my opinion it is good to acknowledge the lesser, stranger, or even sexually peculiar of great men of human history - should serve to give us all more inspiration in our own potentials. Comic book characters do not exist in real life.

The real sociological interesting thing is that as the world economy globalizes more and more the United States has interestingly enough correlated its increase in multiracialism, multiculturalism, or what we could even be termed mulattoization. Yet at the same time gringos are militantly encouraging Brazil to narrow it's image before the world in racial scope and assimilate backwards into a socio-racial structure of 19th century United States: Black & White.

There are many nations on earth with black people - I mean by that predominately or highly populated by black peoples. Few highly populated or predominately populated by mulattos. Brazil is one that while not predominately populated by mulattoes certainly is highly populated by them. This is a good thing - unless one believes mulattoes are intrinsically bad.

It's interesting in reading in my book - for my college class - on the history of labor in the United States that the Creole middle class on New Orleans advanced a socio-racial-labor related environment unlike the rest of the United States. Supporting black labor struggles in the late 1800's the Creole's got the white population of that city to support the black labor struggles too. The city had heavy cultural mix of Spanish, French, Anglo, African, and Indian cultural elements. The captains of Industry and the United States Government finally broke New Orleans after World War I and New Orleans would from that time on become fully assimilated into the racial structures of the United States.

The idea that mulattoes have been a "wall" is incorrect in my opinion. I believe mulattoes have often served as "bridges."

Racism in Brazil exists, but is milder
written by me, December 09, 2006
Being a stranger (from Europe) in Brazil, I can say that racism exists in Brazil, but it is not as "hard" as the racism found for example in South Africa, Japan, USA or indeed Europe. Racism is "hard" in these places because it denigrates blacks outright (read: it even denies them humanity, and considers them half-monkeys), while in Brazil it's a sort of mild ignoring which borders on sympathy. It´s hard to explain, but I hope you get the idea.

In any case, I agree with the author that celebrating "Black Conscience" day in Brazil is unnecessary. On the other hand, I strongly disagree him comparing racists with "communists" - one really doesn´t have to do anything with the other. I think the author merely uses "communists" as intensifier.
...
written by Me, December 09, 2006
Maybe you guys are married to mulatoes brazilian women to be so nice at this point with Brazil? : D

Disgust Americans sorry
...
written by Simpleton, December 10, 2006
I've met mulatoes in Brazil that seem as deeply biased against blacks as anyone I've encountered. And it's not of a mild ignoring or sympathy type thing either although you might mistake it for such since Brazillians treat each other and everyone else much nicer than most people in the USA do. Can't say I understand it at all. One such person has a parent that is only one generation out of Africa. Kind of shattered the thought that maybe some of this all comes out of heritage / generational training.
Moors
written by Stephen White, December 10, 2006
Don't forget Portugal was ruled by the Moors from North Africa ( a black race) for over 500 years... so guess who was sporned by the blacks.Yes the Portuguses!! Once you go Black no never go back!!
RE: Simpleton
written by e harmony, December 10, 2006
You mean like this Youtube video of Arnold in Rio in the 1960's or 1970's or so suggests?

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?s...riEH1bsokA. You may have to hit the confirm button to view the video. The video has bunda shaking of dark Brazilian women.
Re: Moors
written by A brazilian, December 11, 2006
Don't forget Portugal was ruled by the Moors from North Africa ( a black race) for over 500 years...


1 - Following your logic, since blacks were enslaved in the US we can conclude they are whites because the white men owned their women;

2 - Portugal received influence from many people, include the goths from the north. I once had I girlfriend whose father was portuguese (had immigrated to Brazil), she was white as the color of the wall, green eyes, blonde;

3 - Brazil received immigrants from all parts of the world;

4 - Now they all form the brazilian civilization, one race.
...
written by Will Pickering, December 11, 2006
I am surprised that Brazzil.com would put such an idiotic diatribe on its website. What was the author's point? Black consciousness day is a bad idea? There is no racism in Brazil? Zumbi was gay? He provided no arguments or evidence for any of his confused and unconnected points.
Non-black Brazilians may think there is little or no racism in Brazil, but like it or not, black Brazilians do think so. The recent book, "Race in Another America", has plenty of statistics to prove that racial discrimination does exist in Brazil.
By the way, I think a lot of the posts here are way off the topic.
Don't Be Hoodwinked By This Educated Fool
written by Kevin Campbell, December 11, 2006
It seems that the only people that believe that racism doesn't exist in any part of the world (not just Brazil) are those that have never felt it's consequences. This is the same for any form of superiority. I don't believe however, that as unqualified as this author is, his works should be supressed. He either naively or maliciously reflects a sentiment that people who are victims of racism and those who have an a awareness of it, should always be mindful of. The only people that have the luxury of intellectualizing about racism and whether it exists or not or to what degree, are the ones that have never felt it's consequences. Please do not be impressed by the authors credentials. Educated fools like Janer Cristaldo are really very simple-minded and wish to explain away complex issues of race and class in society as if they were only an illusion. I contend that this is simply a wake-up call to be well-read and aware. It is a worthless exercise to argue with people about the existence of any form of prejudice. It is far better to just use legal means to defeat them, while raising the conciousness of those that still have open and balanced minds.
As a side note to igapó: I am very sorry that you feel so strongly about Americans, since you have met so few of us.
I'll bet if you me met you would like me as I like most of the brasilieros I have come in contact with.
This website and forum I first visited because of my love and interest in Brasil. I'm not really sure where so many of us have gotten off on the wrong foot of waging personal attacks. You are all missing a great opportunity to get past all the BS that separates people and learn about what we all share in common.
Peace.
...
written by A brazilian, December 11, 2006
This gringo talk is making me sick already. Don't pretend do speak in the name of the non-white people of the world because:

- There's no such dichotomy;
- We are not your equals;

Why don't you keep this hate in the US only? I see people with absolute zero knowledge on Brazil, that has read things either through propagandistic media or books, speaking as if they were authority in anything.

Please tell me then, authorities:

- Why do white women spend endless hours in the beach for getting a tan? Aren't they happy in being white?
- Why do rounded bundas are regarded as good if that's definetely NOT one of the attributes white women are famous for?
- Why the mulata is regarded as "good looking"? In a racist country wouldn't a blonde be better suited for the sinonym of beauty?
- Look at what the brasileiro thinks an attrative woman is, is it close to any european standard?

I have lived my all life in this country and haven't found any of problems you cited. Either I am the luckiest man on earth or you are mistaken.
Nonsensical ramblings
written by Benny Blanco, December 11, 2006
written by Will Pickering, 2006-12-11 11:29:56

I am surprised that Brazzil.com would put such an idiotic diatribe on its website. What was the author's point? Black consciousness day is a bad idea? There is no racism in Brazil? Zumbi was gay? He provided no arguments or evidence for any of his confused and unconnected points.
Non-black Brazilians may think there is little or no racism in Brazil, but like it or not, black Brazilians do think so. The recent book, "Race in Another America", has plenty of statistics to prove that racial discrimination does exist in Brazil.
By the way, I think a lot of the posts here are way off the topic

Best comments written on this idiotic article passing itself off as journalism.
different opinions
written by igapó, December 12, 2006
Hearing over the crowded São Paulo’s parade in the day of the black conscience I cherished the small glimpse of awareness raise over people’s situation in Brasil. For me a rise of conscience of the one’s own conditions of living in Brasil, and especially this conscience as a group, is never enough or ends. I am aware that the majority of Brazilians who suffer the most deprivations here are the black and mulatto people; I also know they are in a bigger number. If not allowing the distribution of wealth can be considered racism, then I would say that there’s racism in Brazil. I don’t deny the existence of racism as something universal, and even racism in Brasil practiced maybe by some, I believe it is more accurate say by a few, but I still can’t see racism as an issue in Brasil. I also find as over the top the article’s tone.

If someone said that mulatas do Sargentely, that e-harmony mentioned in an u tube video with the governator, the way black women here are considered sexual objects, can be considered a kind of racism then I’d say it is more about chauvinism against them than other thing, that’s my opinion. See, when abolition of slavery happened at the end of the 19th century, intellectuals considered as a solution grant land to the newly free men and women understanding they would contribute to the development of the country besides of starting their lives from some point. The white farmers, the official land owners and heir, legislators and the dominant power did not see the same way. They wouldn’t give up lands like that and that was not motivated by color but due to no dividing the bulk, I believe this habit is as old as the patter tribes of the classic civilizations. What I do believe is that this day should raise a conscience of the less privileged people in Brazil, how they live, why is that, what solutions can be and THEY must find, what is necessary to learn, who are there to associate with. Among those who suffer the most needs in Brazil are the nordestinos, who are Indian descent and the indigenous people it self along with the black and mulattoes. You see, if you are regular dressed in São Paulo, being whatever color, you are not well treated even by the mulattoes or black employees, janitors, sales clerks etc.
Also I understand that what Americans understand as black race, in Brazil even mixed race consider themselves mulattoes and not black at all. In the Brazilian understanding black people are indeed 6 % of the country’s population. Think also Cristaldo might be referring with this article to the current actions of the black movement of offering superficial solutions to the black people; much like the Bolsa Família that doesn’t promote their development, the cotas, shares, in the public universities for the black people, in this case discriminate the poor of all races! If it is a temporary for this very generation it seems reasonable but not a permanent solution, cause 1.public schools must be improved and 2. public universities must be based in merit. This conscience seems to be raising more prejudice than clearness at this point.

I too think that I was lately radical about Americans. I know few Americans yes but I also read and hear about them as well as I read stuff here that relates to me as a brazilian. I am aware that not all Americans are simple-minded in addition to I’m aware not all Brazilian politicians are corrupt because this is a misguided conception. And I had to read carefully, accompany daily articles and writings to state this!
The Common Tread
written by Kevin Campbell, December 12, 2006
Meu amigo igapó:
I understand some of the problems that many Brazilians may have with the attempts of non-white Brazilians are making to resolve issues of inequality in Brazilian society. Just like democracy in Brazil is rather new...so is this arising consciousness about the need for non-whites in Brazil to seek equity. Both concepts need time to evolve and work out the kinks so that Brazilian society can continue to evolve into a place where the opportunity is available for anyone willing to make the effort to succeed and in the end make Brazil a greater and more prosperous nation.
The American concept of race is false (and certaintly was not developed by Black Americans), though it may be commonly accepted, It has no basis in science. We all know there is a difference between science and social and polictical reality. No matter what a non-white person perceives themselves as, when people who are part of the dominant majority perceive a difference, they have a choice to make about how they will treat that person. For some unfortunately that treatment will be unfair and discriminatory to say the least. No matter how I, in Ameica or any Brazilian chooses to label ourselves eg. Black, negro, mulato, pardo...this has absolutely no impact on the manner in which people who are racist/prejudiced will behave towards me. Folha de Sao Paulo had two articles on the front page when I was there in November. One about a babysitter who lost out on a job, because of her race and the failure of Brazilian authorities to do anything about it. The second was about the disparity in in pay between so-called Blacks and Pardos in Brazil with the same educational background as Whites. Calling oneself mulato, morena clara or whatever wont save people from being victims of people who are either consciously and maliciously biased or in most cases unconsciously biased, much of which in my opinion stems from the psyco-historical fallout of colonialism/slavery. For Black people in America, identifying oneself as Black has more of a political signifigance than people looking from the outside may realize. Even though there are many shades of Black people in America who if they didn't label themselves Black you might think they were White...this gives us a political cohesiveness that allows us to collectively address issues of discrimination. It gives us a unified voice in a society in which we compose only 13% of the population. If societies and people could be fair and reasonable this would not be needed. This idea of racial/ethnic equity exists on the Star Ship Enterprise not in our world. I hope that instead of anger and lack of reason there can be more discovery and discussion about this topic both in Brazil and the exterior. There will never be perfection in any society, but there is lots of room for improvement.
Abracos.
...
written by A brazilian, December 12, 2006
Calling oneself mulato, morena clara or whatever wont save people from being victims of people who are either consciously and maliciously biased or in most cases unconsciously biased, much of which in my opinion stems from the psyco-historical fallout of colonialism/slavery.


This is false, I didn't find it in where I live and I am not 100% white. No signs of discrimination whatsoever. I have to say that I worked with the most varied kinds of people and I was always well regarded because of my talent. If I didn't manage to get the highest salary, I have to confess that my incompetence in negotiating was the cause of it, not some "conspiracy from the white men".

There's no justification for implementing America's race system. As you said yourself this is false, so why bother? Besides, this has an extremely negative impact to the mind of the individual. It takes the responsibility of creating one's own self and gives them a stereotype they should follow. People tends to get easier to manage. This was done successfully in Germany post- WWI. Not that they were racism free before, but the misery and humiliation they suffered PLUS some identity politics putting the blame on some "international jew conspiracy" (instead of telling they were the guilty of their own state of misery) created an evil that still exists today.

One thing I see is that Brazil is a class based society, and if you are poor you will be treated like crap by everyone (the police, commerce, etc). The person being illiterate and/or rude, plus poorly dressed won't help either and people will avoid them. But the poor are not saints either, they believe they have the right to everything without even making the effort (the government should give everything to them). I know some people that worked in hospitals that accepted SUS, the poor people that went there weren't "oppressed", they were EXTREMELY RUDE, to the point of beating the doctors.

This is a problem related to a social problem, not race.

Even though there are many shades of Black people in America who if they didn't label themselves Black you might think they were White...this gives us a political cohesiveness that allows us to collectively address issues of discrimination


As I have repeated many times in this website, political power is what this is all about, and that makes no difference if it were about Nazis. This "victim mindset" is despisable, the person assumes a passive stance. The myth of the cannibal I put in another thread is far better, because it's a warrior one.

One of values I was taught was of fighting for things I want in this life because no one will give me anything, and I have done fairly well. I saw others doing fairly well too. All was gained through work and study, nothing was given to me. So I ask: "Why blacks want things for free?".

I hope that instead of anger and lack of reason there can be more discovery and discussion about this topic both in Brazil and the exterior. There will never be perfection in any society, but there is lots of room for improvement.


I don't know about the US, and I don't really care honestly, but the one thing we don't need is this small-mindedness. Being free to be whatever you want should be included in the freedom the americans say they have.

After reading so many gringos, I don't think you are free at all. You are miserable, talk, act and write as such.
What is your address Boy? CEP?
written by Stephen White, December 12, 2006
Does not matter if someone got out of the favela and got some education, when it's time to make a job interview if his or her's address ( postal zip code) is not from the right neighbourhood it's back to the slums folks. Seen it so many times can even count how many now. Why do the service elevators in the condos and apto buildings have a rear door? Sure the social elevator has to accept Blacks and mulatas and morenas by law but the servants are not going to challenge the white tenents about it. Back of the bus and please use the service entrance.. Please and thanks!! By the way the most beautiful girls regarded by male Brazilians are the white top models from the southern states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Not dark and hairy !!!
WTF
written by A brazilian, December 12, 2006
Where did you get these stupid ideas from? The service entrance exists for the same reason store workers in a mall aren't allowed to carry things around (like trash or equipment) in the hours the mall is working. Would you like to smell trash while shopping? So the people that do the cleaning usually use those entrances in condos.

What non-sense is that of mulatas and morenas? Don't mix everything like some messed up gringo!

Tell me, how many blondes from Rio Grande do Sul have you met with rounded bundas, the way brazilians like? Do you know anything about Brazil!? Then you should know that bundas are the "paixão nacional" and non-racially mixed blondes (usually) don't have it. I even joked with a friend some time in the past, he said the americans would colonize the moon (sic!) then I said it would be "the land of the women with flat butts", this would be immediately recognized by anyone with any knowledge on Brazil to be said by a brazilian.

What a moron. I guess the only brazilian girl you know is Gisele Bündchen! Do you know her nickname was "Olive Oyl" from the Popeye cartoon? Why is that? Because she was so hot? I will let you answer that.
...
written by Kevin Campbell, December 12, 2006
A brazilian:
You should have no fear of using your real name and standing firmly behind the comments you make.
It's laughable that on one hand you assert that you have never been a victim of racism and then conclude that racism doesn't exist. This denial that you are in about the existence of racism is far more insideous than overt racism itself.
To suggest that the problems with inequity in Brazil are based solely on class is just pure fiction. To further suggest that in my reply I have suggested to anyone how they should define themselves then you have totally misunderstood and misrepresented my words. They were not meant to suggest to anyone what they should or should not do, these are after all the opinions of one man based on his life experience. I have no problem with you disagreeing with me on this since you are undoubtedly in your skin and I am in mine. Not 100% white is not the same as being perceived as black or of African heritage, half Indian is not the same as being perceived as an Indian. Before you take such an absolute stance on discrimination in Brazil, why don't you spend some time talking with other Brazilians who look like African descendants and get thier perspective on it as I have over the many years I have travelled to Brazil. That you attempt to describe my knowledge of Brazil as someone who just read books about it...I'm here to tell you that I travel to and throughoutt your country frequently. How many times have you been to the US? Nowhere did not suggest that Brazil implements America's system of racial classification. If you would be a bit less defensive you would see that I only sought to explain it, not to prescribe it for Brazil.
To make statements like:
"I don't know about the US, and I don't really care honestly, but the one thing we don't need is this small-mindedness"
This statement is the very definition of small-mindedness.
Then to follow that up with stereotypical, racist diatribe on Blacks that supposedly want something for nothing:
So I ask: "Why blacks want things for free?"
I have a question for you. Since most of the wealth in Brazil is cincentrated in the hands of so few whites.
I ask you how did they get it. Hard work? Good Ethics? Fairness? I know you already know the answer to that one.
How about the BloodSucking (Sanguessugas) polititians (mostly non-Black) of Brazil?! Are they also like the Blacks that want something for nothing?
Holla Back Yo!
...
written by igapo, December 12, 2006
Kevin I believe a brazilian is under his skin and you can quite grasp that too. I am afraid you may be idealizing people. A brazilian did not say all black & morenos want to gain life for free. This is not restricted to black guys unskilled whites are too into it. Think of public jobs in Brazil. Everybody who don't have a good job or even trained skills wants to run for this more-than-the-average-job-wages. It is a "bloody" run for this types of jobs. And you know the results of this kind of service in brazil, bureaucracy, inefficience. Many of the people who gain bolsa família voted for Lula because of this benefit and others they really expect to have. If bolsa família is important, I have no doubt of it, many very poor families depend on it to live! But like brazilian said this is just a palliative solution, they remain in a passive and victimized position towards society.

Brazilian articles circulated discussing if this racial cote wouldnt in fact implement a new racial system here. And you know that Brazil compare itself to America and other first world nations in terms of indexes and in this case to the racial system. And many did say frequently that this racial cotes would be implementing a system very close to the American and questioned if this was a solution to Brazil. I am sure there must be articles in Portuguese in the web that you can read on it.


Because one reads or/and listen everyday about the sanguessugas then one can conclude that every individual in Brazil is making his way through non ethic ways? Where is capitalism in it? Isn't it profit made from hard work from others, a mais-valia? Wouldn't it be valuable if every professional category in Brazil would have a strong union to negotiate better deals for every category? Nobody denials racism but Brazil has overcome lots of its bitter heritage, black people are not as treated in Brazil in a preconceived manner as they did in the 20's 50's 80's and so on. That's why many people get fed up this cotes for example appears to be a step back and not a step forward....

A brazilian it is said that oppressed people are the ones who most oppress. The result of living an oppressed life, of getting to know from life especially oppression, is alienation, the mother and father of oppression.

This Stephen White is a bad joke, the man wants an angry response by defaming Brazilians. His comment was of a great stupidity that anyone can read. Do you believe Stephen that people who live in Capão Redondo, a wrong zip code according to you, have jobs, commute everyday? You probably bump into them on the streets. But who knows maybe now you don't live in the south region as a hotelary professional, neither you live in the Northeast with your daughter. Who knows where your zip code is?

"Back of the bus and please use the service entrance.. Please and thanks!! "

Hey Stephen White, I am sure this is what you wanted to say to more people than you really can!
...
written by A brazilian, December 12, 2006
Yes, I think this country is full of people that think the government is a "father" that should give everything, rich and poor alike. Public jobs are a cancer, they seem to live in an utopia of "never getting fired" and other privileges, this causes the country to be very inneficient. Does it exist in other non-communist countries? Is it conceivable that someone get a job today and it's guaranteed not be fired ever? Everytime there's one of those "concursos públicos" thousands of people do it, in the hope of putting "o burro na sombra". The dreams of parents is their boys to be football players and the girls to be models, if they aren't fit for those jobs then the next dream in the list is having a public job, an easy life guaranteed.

In my opinion everything should be privatized, even the universities. Then this quota talk would be over. The government should invest more in basic education and could offer college scholarships for low income people instead of maintaining colleges for the richest portion of our population.
Janer Cristaldo, my mulatto hero
written by Dave1, December 13, 2006
Dr. Janer Cristaldo, You are my hero for pointing out that Brazil is plurality mulatto, that there are also many mulattos in America, and that the "one drop rule" should not be exported to Brazil or anywhere else. I hope that your excellent idea for a "Mulatto Consciousness Day" as a national holiday in Brazil comes to fruition. And I hope that it is an example for America, too.
...
written by Dave1, December 13, 2006
I would also like to add, one can oppose homophobia, and one can believe that racism exists in countries ranging from Brazil to Nigeria to Sweden, and still support positive mulatto identity and consciousness, and still oppose any one-drop rules, in Brazil, Amrica, and the rest of the world.
Proposta
written by A brazilian, December 13, 2006
Brasileiros, falemos somente o português e deixemos esses gringos se virarem com tradutores pela rede mundial, se assim quiserem. Assim podemos conversar livremente e comentar as asnices aqui escritas por eles. Esse site não pode ser sério ao permitir coisas como bem exemplificados nesses comentários. Isso não é apenas ofensivo de uma forma inocente, mas sim proposital. O intuito desse site é denegrir a imagem do Brasil e de seu povo, portanto gastar tempo e saliva argumentando é inútil.

Escrevamos somente o português para que outros brasileiros não se iludam ao visitar o site, e deixemo-los na escuridão de sua própria ignorância.
...
written by Rebecca, December 13, 2006
concordo com a brasileira
I think all the idiot gringos in this site...
written by Costinha, December 13, 2006
… besides being constipated also suffer from amnesia.

LOUD & CLEAR: The one nation absolutely obsessed with race is called “The United States of Amnesia.”

As stated before…

The land of the free unless of course you are…

Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, Jewish, female, gay, lesbian, non-republican, disabled, atheist, old, poor, middle class, undereducated, unattractive, live in certain zip codes, have ethnic sounding surnames, fall into lower tax brackets, of non-christian religion, not unionized, and have opinions contrary to popular attitude.

Nof said!

...
written by Simpleton, December 14, 2006
For the Brasileiros and Brasileiras, please express yourselves freely in english. IF not just for the fun of proving how smart you are, please do it for those of us who have no education in the portugues language and don't own text translator programs. Despite having to skip through a bunch of crap more often than not, there's a chance that many people who read this site are interested in gaining your perspective on what goes on there or anywhere else in the world. Being uneducated (i.e. speak or read little PT) and poor (i.e. don't invest in the tools to assist translation from more serious sites - or is that just being stingy and cheap?) does not mean we're unable to qualify our sources of information (i.e. one newspaper towns that give biased views are not a unique phenomena) nor prevent us from appreciating those expressing controversial viewpoints or viewpoints that contradict our own beliefs.

To e harmony - who give's a f*** about shaking bunda, the subject was existance of apparent racial bias against those viewed as black blacks even by those of mostly black african heritage. Yes, the Brazilian mulata that is the only one in her family that doesn't have a bunda is very likely to be severely jealeous. That has nothing to do with what would make a one drop type cracker white gringa hate white white's in the US.
stupid Simpleton puá!!!!
written by Cláudia, December 14, 2006
First of all, I'm no native english speaking explain yourself what you call me "That has nothing to do with what would make a one drop type cracker white gringa hate white white's in the US". My horrendous "friend" I don't feel like writing to you much less give explanations to you.

"For the Brasileiros and Brasileiras, please express yourselves freely in english.

Despite having to skip through a bunch of crap more often than not, there's a chance that many people who read this site are interested in gaining your perspective on what goes on there or anywhere else in the world."

For you Simpleton I say FUUUUUUCK YOU.
Para Simpleton
written by A brazilian, December 14, 2006
Não, nos comunicaremos em português e vocês que se virem. Não há a menor relação entre o publicado nesse site e a realidade no Brasil. Esse site visa a propaganda de ideais odiosos e é livremente usado por imbecis espalhados pelo mundo inteiro. Existe uma diferença em pontos de vista diferentes e propaganda. Nesse site tudo é de má fé.
Mais Tempo
written by Simpleton, December 14, 2006
A brazilian, obrigado por sua explicacao. Nao necessidade. Eu e os outras muito estupida acho palavras aqui em tudo sem qualificacao e raciocinio (HA!). Nenhuma respeita ninguem esta dias.

Em relativa, por que um branco com linagem negra minimo tenge preconceito para brancos sem linagem negra e um negra com linagem branco minimo tenge preconceito para negras sem branco? Eu conheci de cada e nao compreendo. Explicacao classico (pobreza, educacao, poder, outros) falhar.
...
written by Napoleon, December 14, 2006
Falhar... o seu raciocínio falhar a muito tempo... lol
Nada Mais
written by Simpleton, December 15, 2006
HaHa -ok Napoleon. Desculpa portugues de meu. Falar sobre alguns pessoa com inexplicavel problema - pessoa branco com problema de pessoas mais branco no EUA e mulato com problema de pessoas negra no BZ. (Pessoas a ou de coracao e que luta pela justica social de resto, tirando isso.)

PARDO is a palliative
written by Fabinho, December 15, 2006
you all read these official statistics http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/es...so2000.pdf
_______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________
Racism against Black people does exist in Brazil

If racism wouldn't exist, why many Black people declared themselves as "Parda" in statistics? A good way to understand if you are considered to be black or white in the "non racist" paradise that is the country of miscegenation would be taking a hundred of those people who declared themselves as "Pardo" in these statistics and have them run into one of those condominiums in Ipanema or Jardins and see what the reaction of the vigilantes there. Or showing up at some dinner in the same condominiums and being introduced as the new boyfriend of their daughter to mum and daddy.




...
written by Simpleton, December 15, 2006
The problem for my family member and the problem for my friend are not unique. I do not like that they have this problem. I do not know why or how they have this problem. I love them anyway. Thier problem is mild. It rarely makes them do things or say things to hurt someone. If some day someone can find why they have this problem maybe they will find many other people have this cause but with stronger and more damaging consequences. Then maybe someone can find a way to elminate this problem. Over time such a solution would have much greater effect and be easier to implement than making the classical excuses of poverty, education, disparity in power and or money go away. Face it, the classical excuses will never go away. Anything done to try to help a little bit with those issues should never be labeled or associated as being because you are trying to address racism or the effects thereof. (I know, I know - don't say it, the Brazilians will never admit they have racism just like anywhere else on the planet.)
Para Fabinho
written by A brazilian, December 15, 2006
Cara, deixa de ser imbecil. Paliativo do quê? Desde quando ter vários ascendentes lhe torna negro? E por que, nesse caso, negro seria superior aos demais a ponto de sozinho determinar o que é uma pessoa é?

Quem você pensa que é para dizer o que pessoas são? Não é responsabilidade delas criarem as suas próprias idéias, através da reflexão e de suas vidas? Limitar essas diferenças não é como colocar arreio na mente? Não é tratar o povo como gado?

Muita gente reclama de "nacionalismos" de imigrantes, pessoas louvando as suas origens, sejam italianos, japoneses, etc, mas há uma diferença entre eles e essa babaquice racista, não somos obrigados a aturá-los e nem a concordar com o que quer que digam. Eles fazem o que querem e somos livres para ignorá-los. O que esses negros racistas americanos querem é a ditadura da cor, onde a pessoa é classificado de acordo com o que meia dúzia pensa.

Sobre o seu exemplo do condomínio realmente foi ridículo. Eu tenho amigos mulatos que calharam de nascer com fenótipo negro, e eles não tem problema algum na vida relacionado a namoradas e famílias de namoradas. Um deles inclusive é filho de um negro rico!

Esse pessoal perdeu o juízo em alguma época da vida. Gente amarga e perdida que busca incluir os outros nas suas maquinações miseráveis. Isso é espírito pequeno, vontade pequena, efeminados mas não como as grandes mulheres, efeminados num tom pejorativo assim como os boiolas e os frouxos.
Para Simpleton
written by A brazilian, December 15, 2006
Eu não entendi a sua pergunta.
Com licensa
written by Simpleton, December 16, 2006
A braxilian - Eu nao entendi uma palavara a sua posta so - "pergunta". Com pesquisa pequena a google eu endendio - pergunta = "?"!! Vc melhore algo. Pegunta apos "I know, I know..." nao esse sirio. Anticipar-se reposta a os outras com tendencia fanatica e negativo so. (e atrapalhado pesonalidade duplo de meu? Eu maluco, sim. Combinar duas mensagem em um o exhibicao duas opiniao contraditorio - desgraca de Libra.)

A os pergunta sirio (preconceito radcial - existe em Brasil e todo mundo) - sugerir a pesquisa sintoma atipica e rara de conhecido meu - analogue a pesquisa medico que esse muito famoso em brazil. Possibilidade esse pista ir ao solucao unico, universal e permanente. Eu concordo educacao ajudar em parte. Distribuir dinheiro, poder parte, cota legislacao - palliative falhar.

Por favor, condescender a ou escriver em ingles. Eu consado e preguicoso.
Now we know why black americans are like this...
written by A brazilian, December 18, 2006
http://www.nature.com/embor/jo...00158.html

Here is the explanation.
...
written by a guest, December 22, 2006
SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA...

Every hour
someone commits a hate crime.

Every day
at least eight blacks, three whites, three gays, three Jews and one Latino become hate crime victims.

Every week
a cross is burned.

Hate in America is a dreadful, daily constant. The dragging death of a black man in Jasper, Texas; the crucifixion of a gay man in Laramie, Wyo.; and post-9.11 hate crimes against hundreds of Arab Americans, Muslim Americans and Sikhs are not "isolated incidents." They are eruptions of a nation's intolerance.

Bias is a human condition, and American history is rife with prejudice against groups and individuals because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or other differences. The 20th century saw major progress in outlawing discrimination, and most Americans today support integrated schools and neighborhoods. But stereotypes and unequal treatment persist, an atmosphere often exploited by hate groups.

When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is considered a hate crime. Race and religion inspire most hate crimes, but hate today wears many faces. Bias incidents (eruptions of hate where no crime is committed) also tear communities apart — and threaten to escalate into actual crimes.

According to FBI statistics, the greatest growth in hate crimes in recent years is against Asian Americans and the gay and lesbian community. Once considered a Southern phenomenon, today most hate crimes are reported in the North and West.

And these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. Law enforcement officials acknowledge that hate crimes — similar to rape and family violence crimes — go under-reported, with many victims reluctant to go to the police, and some police agencies not fully trained in recognizing or investigating hate crimes.

The good news is ...
All over the country people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance and inclusion. More often than not, when hate flares up, good people rise up against it — often in greater numbers and with stronger voices.

This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate, along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who worked to push hate out of their communities.

Whether you need a crash course to deal with an upcoming white-power rally, a primer on the media or a long-range plan to promote tolerance in your community, you will find practical advice, timely examples and helpful resources in this guide. The steps outlined here have been tested in scores of communities across the nation by a wide range of human rights, faith and civic organizations.

Our experience shows that one person, acting from conscience and love, is able to neutralize bigotry. Imagine, then, what an entire community, working together, might do.

photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel



Respond to bigoted comments

10 Ways to Fight Hate

10 Ways to Fight Hate on Campus

101 Tools for Tolerance

Respond to hate at school

Mix it up at lunch

Make every victim count

Find a social justice group

Order our materials

Get our newsletter





Explore your hidden biases

Deconstruct biased language

Explore hidden history

Visit the Civil Rights Memorial


Active U.S. Hate Groups in 2005

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/?source=redirect&url=tolerance-maps-hate
...
written by Ric, December 22, 2006
Go back and read the article. It mentions Brazil, Soviet Union, Swede, Nigeria. No USA, America, etc. Not one reference. And yet all the blah, blah, blah, comments about America and its nature and its statistics.You anti-Americans have an easily seen through, Freudian fixation. Shakespeare said, "Methinks the damsel protesteth too much". How can you hate something and yet bring it up out of the blue and talk about it incessantly? Não bate bem, não.
A Dime a Dozen
written by Luigi, December 23, 2006
Ph.D's from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, must be a dime a dozen these days. I cannot think of a single social scientist who would claim that Blacks in Brazil are (really) 6% of the population. Janer, why don't you do all of us a favor? Why don't you go back to Paris where you belong? What do you know about being Black and discriminated in Brazil as a member of the elites?
Ph.d my a.ss!
written by Eliza Cabreira, December 23, 2006
For a supposedly educated man he holds very little forsight.He's views are outrightly prejudice!His very reasoning is the very reason Brazil has a black conscience day!Ask him how many black people you evers ee on TV in Brazil or why so many black people live below the povery line,or better yet why most of the street children slaughtered every year are of obvious black descent...bet he wouldn't have an answer.
...
written by jabmalassie, December 25, 2006
Brazil has alot of racism. The general black population do not have the self pride in their African Roots as say the U.S.A. or Jamaica. I don't think blacks want anything for free in these countries any more than whites. The colonizers have been taking the labor of the people for free for hundreds of years. The industries want cheap labour from the underclass. If they don't have anything to offer they the government fails to recognize them. I wonder if those poor favelas have internet connections in their schools. They now find it impossible to get the skills and resources because they are out of the starting block a couple of hundreds of years late. You have the Oprah Winfrey's and other black millionaires in the U.S.A. Brazil doesn't have that. No self awareness. This guy who wrote this story probably bought his P.H.D. off the internet.
Personal attacks
written by A brazilian, December 26, 2006
It's sickening to hear people that probably never set foot in Brazil to promote this hatred view of the world, of racial segregation. I think the brazilian population is being underestimated in its ability to think, this week I saw on TV a black girl saying that she doesn't want to fight anybody and that we are all brazilians! Thank God the population is not taking this crap seriously.
...
written by A brazilian, December 26, 2006
Oh my god, I am going to vomit. But I will stand up against these racists, because I don't want to see my country to become some kind of hell just like in the US.

Brazil has alot of racism. The general black population do not have the self pride in their African Roots as say the U.S.A. or Jamaica.


So you think segregation and an artificial "self pride" is the "right way"? So all those Nazis in the US aren't they proud of being pure white? Is this kind of Nazism you are proposing?

THIS IS NOT AFRICA. AND NOT EUROPE TOO. Brazilians, let's build a civilization unlike anything else in this world!! Let's leave these poor racist bastards to choke in their own bile and live their miserable lives locked in some ghetto.

I don't think blacks want anything for free in these countries any more than whites. The colonizers have been taking the labor of the people for free for hundreds of years. The industries want cheap labour from the underclass. If they don't have anything to offer they the government fails to recognize them.


WTF? Where did you get this from? What colonizers for Christ's sake? Everyone is free to do whatever they want, and if they are capable then will have the rewards. There's absolutely nothing preventing blacks from being wealthy.

I wonder if those poor favelas have internet connections in their schools. They now find it impossible to get the skills and resources because they are out of the starting block a couple of hundreds of years late. You have the Oprah Winfrey's and other black millionaires in the U.S.A.


There are tens of millionaires. Have you ever heard of football players, they are zillionaires and appear on TV selling all kinds of stuff.

Brazil doesn't have that. No self awareness. This guy who wrote this story probably bought his P.H.D. off the internet.


Self awareness??????? WE DO HAVE SELF-AWARENESS, WE ARE BRAZILIANS!! Keep your nazi ramblings in the US please, go play eugenics with you brothers from the KKK and leave us alone.
...
written by jabmalassie, December 26, 2006
"The general black population do not have the self pride in their African Roots as say the U.S.A. or Jamaica." This is the truth. Speak to many mixed Brazilians who are obviously part black and they will say classify themselves a white. I have seen this so many times it is a joke. Where is the pride?

"The colonizers have been taking the labor of the people for free for hundreds of years". Truth Portuguese were colonizers. Brazil has a history of slavery. (If you don't know your past you don't know your future)

P.S. I am glad Italy won the world cup.

"There's absolutely nothing preventing blacks from being wealthy" You guys are going to have some real problems if you stick your head in the sand"



...
written by A brazilian, December 26, 2006
You guys are going to have some real problems if you stick your head in the sand


Like you have any idea of what you are talking about...
??
written by jabmalassie, December 26, 2006
Janer Cristaldo
...
written by jabmalassie, December 26, 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Empire

You really want to avoid that there are race problems by saying that it is really a "class problem, because racism does not exist in Brazil".
Am I mistaken in believing that there is a black underclass in Brazil?That those with the greatest wealth are white?
Can you answere these questions without a personal attack. I do not advocate any racial segregation. How do you equate being proud of your
African roots and being a Nazi?

...
written by A brazilian, December 27, 2006
Aren't Nazis proud of being white? Such line of thinking tends to favor segregation, because everyone will be proud of something and unwilling to mix.

There are poors in Brazil, of all colors. And there are black riches also. Statistically, for propaganda purposes, it's more conveninent to considerer, in the US racism style, every person with some black relative in the family (sometimes even generations behind) to be "black". This way the numbers of the "black underclass" is huge, but they are also made up.

We should give better conditions for people from lower classes to be able to ascend in society, not to privilege blacks at the expense of everyone else.

I suggest you take a look at the proposals made by black movements to be adopted in Brazil, they are completely out of their minds. They basically want to force the adoption of the "one drop rule" in Brazil, so they would go from 6% to almost 50% of blacks overnight, and they want to do so by tagging people. They know that people won't do it out of their free will, because of the heavy mixing of the population there are hundreds of color and physical variations. Yes, just like the jews in the WWII, remember? So every "afro-descendent" would be indentified as such and use his "black card" to use government services.

This among other stupidities, like teaching African history in school. Who cares? We are supposed to learn world history and brazilian history. What do they have in their minds?

This is not meant for building a strong brazilian society with a strong brazilian identity, this is meant to destroy Brazil by fracturing it the same way the US is fractured, the Anglo-Saxon way. The difference is that by then we would be playing the US rules.

BTW, blacks have achieved things in Brazil that you will never be able to achieve in the US. They freely celebrate their culture and we, brazilians like me, despite of hating it we are fed 24x7 via TV and other media. Black americans seems to be embarassed of their culture and try to mimic whites in every way.

We are free. You are not.
...
written by jabmalassie, December 27, 2006
Nazi's are not only proud of being white but also believed in the extermination of jews, gypsies and other "inferior races". I am sure you know the legacy of Nazi's and their beliefs. I live in Canada not the U.S.A. Although some may call it a myth and we are a new country we call ourselves a "multicultural society". In Canada we encourage various cultures whether Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Portuguese or Aboriginal to be proud of their heritage and they are free to practice most of the customs as protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I do not equate the pride of any of these cultures with Nazis.It did not promote segregation really because we have a high rate of inter cultural and interracial marriage. The African Carribean community in Canada promote a concept of "black pride" that is intended to elevate the community not for hate but to elevate the pride in their own customs. Courses are avaiable on many subjects if you are willing to pay for it and education is accessible. I do not see anything wrong with teaching African History. I am not sure if you are talking about the history of the African continent or African slaves brought to Brazil. If it is part of Brazilian history what is wrong with teaching it? It might evoke hate?

You talk about the underclass being of many races in Brazil. I know in Brazil there are so many mixed people that the definition of white black brown ect. is blurred. In Canada white is usually someone who is a White Anglo Saxon Protestant. A person with roots in the United Kindom. Portuguese and Italians are not what is really considered "White".
The funny thing is whatever label someone decides to put on you does not change who you are. Your DNA will tell you who you are. In the Carribean I may be white but in Russia I am black. Does that really change who I am? I actually believe in the statistics and it really does not matter if YOU believe in them or not. If Brazil corrects the problem with the underclass which you say is not a black problem, It will correct what I perceive as a race problem.

I am not sure if you have ever seen the movie Hollywood Shuffle. At the time the movie was quite hilarious because it hit the nail on the head about racism in the media.
I think Brazil is behind the U.S.A. I have seen several movies and shows and it is funny how the black characters are usually from the ghetto or maids.

" Black americans seems to be embarassed of their culture and try to mimic whites in every way. " What is Black American Culture?
What have blacks tangbily accomplished that black americans have not?




...
written by A brazilian, December 27, 2006
Black movements want to prevail in Brazil by the extermination of mixed people. They promote a binary view of the world, by either pretending mixed people don't exist or assimilating them against their will in some "race struggle". BTW, tagging people was last used by the Nazis.

We, mixed people, are the stone in the way of the black Nazis and the power they desire. So they want to remove us "out of the way". Their plans are some sort of "Apartheid" for "fixing the mixing" that defines Brazil. And then we would an Anglo-Saxon culture installed.

In Brazil nothing prevents people from celebrating anything. We have small towns where most of the inhabitants came from Italy, and they have festivals about italian culture. The same for every single culture including the black. The difference between those and the government sponsored hatred is that we are not required to be part of it if we don't want to. If you don't feel interested about japanese culture (the largest colony of japanese outside of Japan is in Sao Paulo) you can just ignore it. This is the difference between both cases.

I don't mind if black people decide to start wearing curtains in a sign of pride, if I can ignore it I wouldn't care even if you wear a blinking sign saying "I am black".

I have met lots and lots of people with japanese descent, and I never needed to acknowledge their ancestry. I treated them like any other human being.

The Anglo-Saxon way is messed up, that simple. People are classified according to their skin color in a very strict manner, and stereotypes are included in it. The very fact you have an "interracial" term coined shows that this is something different for you. Canada is nowhere close to have the same level of mixing as Brazil has.

I have seen people of all origins living together, working together, married or not, and never saw a reason to label with a special term because it's just natural.

All "cultures" we study are included in World history, there's absolutely no reason to create a new subject called "African history" and force the population to take it, that's the what the black Nazi movements want.

About the media, I don't think you have any data to say that. Now, you see, it's a matter of convenience, you will probably point out the cases where the blacks are portraited as maids and guetto dwellers, but will not point out the cases where the mixed people (black for you) are in high positions. Why the double standards? Because it's for propaganda purposes.

What have blacks accomplished that you simply can't? (because of your incredible inferiority complex) I will name a few, but you should research about it:

- customs of african origins are freely practiced to the point that people don't even recognize it as being of African origin. For example, the religion of Candomblé.

Notice that people consider it to be BRAZILIAN. When would something like that be considered Canadian? Most important of all, PEOPLE OF ALL ORIGINS PARTICIPATE IN IT, this is not a ghetto thing, white people do it and by that I mean "White people as canadians would think of white people".

- There are several foods of African origins that eaten by everyone, for example a Feijoada.

And again, IT IS CONSIDERED BRAZILIAN. When would such thing be considered Canadian? All people eat it, and I am sure they don't even know the history of it.

- There are sports of African origins that are practiced by many, for example Capoeira;

And again, IT IS CONSIDERED BRAZILIAN. When would such thing be considered Canadian?

- There are many rythms and music of african origins around;

I personally don't like any of those examples, I am catholic, I don't like that food nor that sport, nor the music, BUT THIS ONLY SHOWS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE GHETTO MENTALITY OF THE US AND CANADA, where mixing is considered not good for the hygiene.

African culture is present, and we don't need to put signs in it. I haven't met a single person embarassed about listening to the music they like because the white people would consider it to be "monkey music", which would innevitably happen in the US and Canada.

We are free. We walk, think and live the way we want and do whatever we want without carrying any flags or hatred with us. We are free in ways you