On April 7th, one of Brazil’s most beloved humorists, Mussum, would have turned 80; musician’s life and career symbolize changing attitudes on race in Brazil
Note from BBT: I can’t say for sure when I became aware of the late, great Mussum as a comic figure. I was familiar with […]
In a period of two weeks, three well-known Afro-Brazilian entertainers die from Covid-19; country continues to set record numbers with deadly second wave
Note from BBT: As record death tolls from Covid-19 continue to rise making Brazil the global epicentre of the pandemic, in a period of two […]
Guinea pigs? Popular TV host Xuxa suggests prisoners be used to test vaccines instead of animals; Brazil’s prison population is nearly 2/3 black and brown
Note from BBT: Have any of you ever noted how quickly people are to apologize for things they say when it provokes public outrage? I mean, […]
‘Executive Order’ is being hyped as best Brazilian film since City of God; plot surrounds Brazilian government attempting to deport blacks back to Africa
Note from BBT: Having followed for the long, difficult journey of Afro-Brazilian filmmakers for two decades, I feel a certain pride in seeing the progress […]
March 22: The birthday of Jorge Ben, the guitarist who revolutionized Brazilian music mixing Samba, Bossa Nova and Soul with lyrics that celebrated blackness
Note from BBT: In my March 4th post on the Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, I mentioned a CD compilation called Putumayo Presents Brasileiro that was my official […]
