Note from BW of Brazil: Today, March 21st, is officially recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. And if you’ve visited this blog enough in past few years, Brazil is clearly not a “racial democracy” where “we are all equal”. If you still don’t believe this, you may need to read some of our material on this topic. Black activists and organizations have been actively attacking this mythology for a number of years and a few weeks ago in Rio de Janeiro, a group of black women organized yet another event in this regard. Some of the details of the event are below.
Black women promote event in Rio against racism
By Isabela Vieira
Objective of act is to show racism the disadvantages of racism and sexism in the everyday
On March 5th, black women promoted in the Central do Brasil, activities against racism and sexism. With the participation of activists from several municipalities, the movement draws the attention of passers-by of the location to the disadvantages of racism and sexism in everyday life.
The aim of the movement is to provoke a reflection on racial prejudice and promote the Marcha das Mulheres Negras 2015 (2015 Black Women’s March), a walk scheduled for November 18 in Brasília.
In the event, women organized music concerts, theatrical performances and a turban workshop.
Professor and writer Ana Gomes, the Fórum de Mulheres Negras do Rio de Janeiro (Black Women’s Forum of Rio de Janeiro), who will participate in the march in Brasília, said that violence against blacks causes death and psychological suffering. “There is an absurd number of young black men being killed and [as a consequence] there are thousands of affected black women because they have children or companions being killed.”
According to one of the march organizers in Rio, Clátia Regina Vieira, one must question situations that deny access of blacks to education, culture and health. “Racism is painful,” said Clátia, to emphasize that this practice “deeply marks women’s lives [generating] vulnerability.” For her, only appropriate public policies can provide access to the education system, culture and other benefits that should be guaranteed by the state.
One of the march coordinators in São Gonçalo and Niterói, journalist Sandra Martins defended the need for society to address violence in the symbolic field, which affects the image that society has of black women. “Cultural production and the media still treats black women stereotypically, with exaggerated features, as if they were a thing or sexual object,” she criticized.
She added: “We have difficulty in showing black woman as a normal woman who works, that takes care of her family, studies, goes to the movies, gets sick and not a being a subordinate.”
Source: Agência Brasil
Leave a Reply