Stuck at the gates of paradise - racism in Brazil

UNESCO Courier, Sept, 2001 by Diane Kuperman

The significance of racist activities can no longer be downplayed by calling them scattered. Though officially prohibited, anti-Semitic and revisionist publications are legion. The Internet distills hatred of blacks, Jews and gays. Desecration of Jewish cemeteries and spray-painted swastikas or insults on walls have become everyday occurrences.

Things are getting out of hand, and tomorrow xenophobes may target any group, regardless of colour, origins or religion.

Meanwhile, the white population turns a deaf ear. A recent survey by the University of Brasilia reveals that 35 percent of those polled reluctantly admitted to being racist, while 65 percent denied it. The insidiousness of invisible racial prejudice was compared to a B-2 Stealth bomber, which radars cannot detect.

Working against the grain

In the 1980s, black community leaders decided it was time to react and began organizing efforts to combat prejudice, fear and resistance. Overcoming their political and religious differences, they joined forces to create non-governmental organizations that defend the rights of blacks and commissioned studies to gain a truthful assessment of the situation. At the same time, they started working to preserve their African ancestors' cultural and religious values. The goal was to strengthen black identity and make Afro-Brazilians feel proud of their colour and traditions. Publications of the highest quality sought to create and extol black role models that might replace white ones.

Publishers, including children's book publishers, started singing the praises of real and fictional black heroes. Even cosmetics companies hopped on the bandwagon, selling beauty products for every skin tone, type of hair and style of dress.

A government stand

The government, which until now was concerned by poverty but never by racism, has even started to address the issue. It must be acknowledged that Brazil has signed the main international human rights conventions and is on the cutting edge of anti-racist legislation. The constitution prohibits all forms of prejudice and considers racism "a crime without statutory limits." Last year, the state of Rio took a new initiative by creating "SOS Racism and anti-Semitism," a hotline set up by the secretariat of public safety to receive complaints from victims of racism.

But outlawing racism is not enough. Regardless of their colour, Brazilians must take action to raise each individual's awareness of social injustice, and incite everyone to help wipe out inequality.

COLOMBIA'S COLOUR-BAR

"But there aren't any blacks in Colombia!" exclaimed a Colombian now living in NewYork after hearing the ethnologist Luz Riviera discuss her recent research into the country's black indigenous communities. "What do you mean there aren't? They're over 22 percent of the population," replied Riviera. "If there are, then they aren't Colombians," insisted the lady.

Luz Riviera tried to explain that the seven million blacks now living in the country are not only as Colombian as her, but that it was also highly likely that she had at least one black ancestor. "God save me from having a black in my family!," the aggrieved woman replied. As in other Latin American countries, racism towards blacks and indigenous peoples is a fact of life in Colombia. And just as in other countries of the region, victims of this racism tend to be "invisible" in the eyes of those who practise the discrimination.