black…MYstory

I have always been taken aback by some of the stereotypes about black people. In this country, to be “mainstream” or have the “All-American look”, white skin (or a reasonable facsimile) is a requirement. However, if you want to explore the more “exotic”, you find a darker face. Obviously, this stratifies a society. It assigns places of prominence and respectability to those of the lightest hues and places the darker hues on lower rungs. Because, after all, the darker one is, the less respectable and compentent they are.

Well, this is not just true in America but, the world over. So, in the country whose black population is second only to Africa, we should not find it surprising that, to paraphrase m favorite radio host, Joe Madison, black people in Brazil are “undervalued, underestimated and marginalized.”

Mark Wells cites several examples of this thinking. One fine example of this is on display as we speak. Every year, Brazil has “Carnaval”, which attracts people from all around the world. More often than not, people go there to see the abundance of shapely brown flesh on parade. What this saysis that when you want to show the hedonstic and sexually-charged side of Brazil, bring out the black folks but, when you want to show the “respectable” side, use only whites, please.

Sound familiar?

Another interesting fact that he notes is the apparent shock and dismay of white Brazilians when displays of black pride are put forth:

Perusing through various readers’ forums throughout the Internet, books and journals, I am amazed to read how many white Brazilians express shock when they see something that prominently displays images or input of black Brazilians. I frequently see comments such as:

“How racist a magazine Raça Brasil! A magazine for blacks?!?!”

“How racist! A T-shirt that says 100% negro.”

“A TV channel for blacks (TV da Gente)!! That is segregation and exclusion!!”

Actor Milton Gonçalves, director of the 1970 novela Irmãos Coragem remembers how he was accused of being racist because he tried to include black actors on the show. He experienced these same sentiments in 2004 when he participated in Joel Zito Araújo’s 2004 film Filhas do Vento, which featured a 90% black cast.

Gonçalves became indignant when a journalist asked him where the white actors were. After all, according to the journalist, with some many blacks in the production, it “ran the risk of becoming a ghetto”. An irritated Gonçalves replied that during his 50 years in the business, he always looked for black actors in white films who didn’t portray thieves, slaves or service workers.

Sounds a lot like those who complain about Black History Month, the existence of the Congressional Black Caucus or why black students on predominately white campuses create culturally-specific groups.

In the end, when you’re black, the world is not as big as you think.

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