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2020 emerged as the year of anti-racism and Vidas Negras Importam in Brazil. But unfortunately, the coverage of this monumental year by the (English-language) international press didn't quite reflect its importance. There were some fantastic articles, but with the pandemic, the Amazon and Jair Bolsonaro always dominating Brazil headlines, perhaps there wasn't enough bandwidth. Of course, I am happy that the international press covered issues like the murder of João Pedro and Gabriel, and Coronavirus but it just wasn't enough. Even so, I glad that I can share with you my ten favorite pieces about Black Brazil.
1) In Brazil's First Elections Under Bolsonaro, Black Women Are Fighting Back - Bruna Perreira - Open Democracy - Bruna Pereira
Since Marielle Franco’s assassination in 2018, Black Brazilian women have been inspired to run for political office and they are doing it in record numbers. Pereira’s article explains the current situation of Black women in politics. It was written before the elections, so it doesn’t highlight the recent gains but this article is a keeper.
Worldwide, Brazil ranks joint 132nd out of 192 countries in terms of women’s representation in legislative bodies, lagging behind most of its regional neighbours. At the local level, only 12% of city halls are run by women, and Black women – who make up 27% of the Brazilian population – govern only 3% of municipalities.
But more than 1,000 Black women all over Brazil raised their hands to run for office following Franco’s murder in 2018, a 60% increase on the previous election cycle in 2014. Even the increase in the number of women candidates today is seen as part of the mobilisation that started in response to Franco’s murder.
2) What it means to be black in Brazil today - Vox - Ana Terra Athayde
Brazil's Black history and culture are complicated. But video producer Ana Terra Athayde achieved the impossible—explaining race and racism in Brazil. This 11-minute explanatory video covers slavery, the end of slavery in Brazil, and the Black movement's birth. It also goes deep into racial theory in Brazil. If I were a teacher introducing high schoolers and college students to race in Brazil, I would show them this video first.
3) Fabrics with Powerful Stories to tell - The New York Times - Jill Langlois
I've been following The New York Time's Brazil coverage for four years, and this is the first time I remember them profiling a black Brazilian woman. This profile by longtime international correspondent Jill Langlois made me feel warm inside, and I'm glad she brought attention to Sonia Gomes' artwork.
4) How Black Brazilians are facing racial injustice today - Time Magazine - Ciara Nugent and Thaís Regina
To understand Black Brazil, one has to understand the definition of a quilombo. This article succeeded in defining this complex term.
The word quilombo–derived from languages brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans–was the name given to rural communities established by those who escaped slavery in the centuries before Brazil abolished it in 1888—the last country in the Americas to do so. At least 3,500 of those rural quilombos still exist. But today, quilombo is taking on a wider meaning. Young Black Brazilians say they need to form new communities of Black resistance to deal with a society still shaped at every level by the legacy of slavery.
5) Brazil has 109 Million Black People and not one runs a big bank - Bloomberg - Cristiane Lucchesi and Felipe Marques
I've been living in Brazil so long that a headline like this doesn't surprise me. But I was surprised to see Bloomberg writing about it — and this is a big deal!
No big bank in Latin America's largest economy, a nation of almost 210 million, has a Black chief executive officer or board member. The percentage of Black upper management in major banking is similar to that in the U.S. (whose Black population is 13%) -- 3%.
6) 'Enormous disparities': coronavirus death rates expose Brazil's deep racial inequalities - The Guardian - Dom Phillips
The Guardian does an excellent job covering Black Brazilian issues in real-time. I loved this article because of the sources and detail. Journalist Dom Phillips talked to REAL people to back up the statistics. Article is quite simple and straightforward, but I still remember it.
The researchers studied health service data on 30,000 patients diagnosed with Covid-19, who had either recovered or died by 18 May. It found that 55% of the black and mixed-race patients died, compared to 38% of white patients.
7) A Brazilian woman caught Coronavirus on vacation. Her maid is now dead. - Reuters - Gram Slattery, Rodrigo Viga Gaier
Reuters Brazil published one of the few English language articles that explained how a black domestic servant became the first confirmed Covid-19 death in Rio de Janeiro. Her story illustrated how Coronavirus arrived in Brazil. Rich, white people brought the virus back from Europe to Brazil and passed it onto their domestic servants, who then returned to their impoverished communities to spread it there. Since her passing, Cleonice Gonçalves has become a social reference in Brazil. Though rarely referred to by her name, she has become the "domestic servant who became the first confirmed death in Brazil." Here's a story in Portuguese by Publicá that is even better.
8) A Black Pianist Helped Birth Bossa Nova. His Story Is Rarely Told. - The New York Times - Beatriz Miranda
I always thought of Bossa Nova as a bourgeoise man's version of light and airy samba music. It was Zona Sul music, so I never thought that a black man could have helped create it. This New York Times article proved me wrong.
Chega de Saudade is widely considered bossa nova's first album. But about seven years before its 1959 release, a Brazilian musician known as Johnny Alf composed "Rapaz de Bem." The song incorporated several elements that became hallmarks of the genre: a linear melody, a gentle way of singing, a series of unconventional key changes, a rhythmic dissociation of drums and bass.
9) Why America's Protests Resonate So Deeply for Brazil - America’s Quarterly - Thiago Amparo
It so rare to see an op-ed in which a Black Brazilian compares the history and lived experience of Black Brazilians with Black Americans. Right after the George Floyd protests erupted, Thiago Amparo wrote this piece for America's Quarterly.
10) Your Hairstyle Can Cost You Your Life in Brazil - Level - Kiratiana Freelon
At first I wasn’t going to include any of the articles that I wrote this year (I’m obviously biased rsrsrs), but I absolutely LOVED writing this one because it took an approachable element - hair - and explained racism against Black Brazilian men and how they navigate it.
Did I miss anything? If you feel like I missed an article that should be on this list, then send me the article, and I will highlight it in the next issues. Please also send articles not written in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Christmas snowflake of black race JPG (afro snowflake for your good mood on Christmas!) :-)
https://open.substack.com/pub/verygoodart/p/coming-soon?r=35ds0s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true