Janete Rocha Pietá, Congresswoman and founder of the Workers' Party (PT) suffers racism by a member of the Ministry of Justice’s staff. When she appeared before the launch of the Bolsa Copa and Bolsa Olímpica, Ms Pieta was barred from the event for being black and dressed in afro style clothes. When she tried to get the pin to access the event, a employee looked at her, up and down and said, "You Mrs, a Congresswoman?? !!!... I never saw you in presidential events.
Even after speaking with a responsible person for the event and have to somehow resolve the situation, Ms Pieta cried. On January 26th, 2010 a Brazilian citizen cried for being "different”, cried for not being part of the Brazilian politicians clan, (white, male and middle class), cried for accept who she is, cried for being proud of her race.
The slavery in Brazil ended in 1888 but not the racial difference. In a country which is said to be blessed by God it is incomprehensible to think that racism still exists.
Since when in a place with so many races and cultures there is room for differences?
For a while I believed racism did not exist in Brazil, I believed that people lived peacefully among themselves. With their differences but treated as equals. However my utopia ended when I moved to Europe and sadly realized that racism is a fact in Brazil. The difference is that this feeling comes accompanied with a joke, a word in the diminutive, and we white people pretend that's okay, that is only a joke, a way to connect us. What we don’t realise is that there is no format of racism, but racism, no matter how it is presented.
This is a really sad entry and amazing how people can still look at others, especially in this example where the person is a real, professional, clever woman and they are still judged because of their skin colour.
ReplyDeleteHow is it that the decision makers and the leaders of the world still have these beliefs?
Hi Emmanuelle
ReplyDeleteSorry the time I took to answer you. The story is really sad, and actually makes me ashamed to be Brazilian. In Brazil things work a bit different, and the population does not have the same power as here, in the UK. While living there I did not realise how racist our people can be. I hope it will change in future.
Thanks for your comment.