For the OAS Inter-American Commission, Brazil is racist and exterminates its “undesirables”
Note from BBT: A pandemic can’t cover up the facts. Of course, we all know how much our daily lives have been affected by the […]
Month: April 2021
From samba to mangue beat: how Africa influenced Brazilian music
Note from BBT: As one might gather from some of my previous posts, I’ve been a fan of Brazilian music for two decades now. In […]
Black Masculinities: Being a black man in Brazil is to live with a series of stereotypes, which involve gender, race and social class
“No question, being a black man is demanding. The fire’s in my eyes and the flames need fanning” – Talib Kweli “I grew up learning […]
Popular blond TV host Xuxa says in the next life she wants to come back as a black woman; actress Taís Araújo gives her a reality check
Note from BBT: Hol´lup. Xuxa said WHAT?, in my best DMX voice (RIP). When news broke in social networks a few days ago that the […]
“Hair transition”: During the quarantine, black men are letting their hair grow out for the first time
Note from BBT: Since about March of 2020, our lives have been effectively changed. I sometimes wonder what the overall costs and damages have been […]
“Kinky/curly hair must be exalted”: black Brazilian women discuss their struggles in a society that rejects natural black hair
Note from BBT: It’s been a while since I posted something that was directly tied to the politics of hair. For many years, the question […]
“People will always refer to me as ‘the black ballerina’”: Despite being a rarity in classical dance, ballet takes Amanda Lima from Ribeirão Preto to the world
Note from BBT: It’s no secret that because of the way Brazil has treated its black and brown population over the course of nearly five […]
“Teacher, to be a princess, you have to be white”; Bahian teacher shocked by comment made by one of her young students
Note from BBT: Obviously, this is a topic that I’ve been familiar with for some time. If you happen to be black or just non-white […]
After controversy, singer Ludmilla appears on Big Brother Brasil and demands respect for natural black hair wearing a straight lacefront wig
Note from BBT: It’s funny how things work out sometimes. One incident happens and then a short time later, a nother incident happens that may […]
Dancer/choreographer Ismael Ivo: The ebony god that Brazil didn’t know and the world revered dies from complications of Covid-19
Note from BBT: Over the course of my work sharing the experience, history, achievements and struggles of black Brazilians, one of my regrets is that, […]
“I’m not racist; my father has hair like yours!”: When is a comment racist? Sometimes, it depends on intent as black hair takes center stage on reality show
Note from BBT: I swear, if you wanna learn about Brazil, in many ways, all you gotta do is watch or follow the news from […]
“Why are you choking him?’: Military Police of São Paulo continue strangling young black men
Note from BBT: As police violence against black people in the United States continues, so too does it continue in Brazil. Of course, this isn’t […]
Reality show participant says his caveman wig is equal to a black man’s afro leading to debate on jokes and racism
Note from BBT: As you who follow this blog know, I’ve been following the goings on the Globo TV reality show Big Brother Brasil for […]
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 […]
