Note from BW of Brazil: Let’s just be real about this. For me, this is not a case of not being aware of the offensive nature of this practice. Even if one wants to believe that the guy who decided to go on TV wearing blackface and imitating a black woman with a widely divulged stereotype in Brazilian culture didn’t know the historical background, Globo TV surely knows. And by allowing a guest to go TV wearing such a costume is Globo’s way of fully condoning such an appearance. As the issue of blackface, or rosto pintado de preto, has been thoroughly covered in past material, today, I’m simply passing on the news. It’s just another example of the shenanigans of dealing with Brazil’s mainstream media.
Globo TV program features guest wearing ‘blackface’ and is accused of racism
The Globo TV program morning talk show Mais Você, hosted by Ana Maria Braga has been accused of racism by putting on a stereotypical character that makes the figure of the black woman look ridiculous in many ways. Followers of the show protested on social networks
By Natália Sena
On Monday the 12th began the 21st edition of the ‘Jogo de Panelas’ (pots and pans game) segment on the program Mais Você, hosted by Ana Maria Braga. The barber William was the first among the five participants and made the theme of his dinner the ‘opposite sex’, in which men dressed up as women and women dressed up as men.
With a discourse on gender equality, the participant erred by characterizing himself as “nega maluca”, meaning “crazy black woman”, an extremely stereotypical character, that makes the figure of a black woman look ridiculous in various respects.
In the social networks, followers of the program commented on the case and criticized the production of the program:
Leona Luna @leonalunaa
I wake up and I see a nega maluca on #JogoDePanelas. DAMN ANA MARIA, 2016 AND YOU’RE DONG THIS?
Carolina Oliveira @carolaynii
I’m black, I have a Black (afro/natural hair), I don’t have white eyebrows, I’m not maluca (crazy) and I don’t dress like a retard so BlackFace is ridiculous. #JogoDePanelas
Andreia com i @DeiaCardoso
The person has no consciousness, doesn’t read about the subject and there is no one to tell him about “Nega maluca”/ Black face: NO #jogodepanelas
J A C Y J U L Y @JacyJuly
You think humanity is evolving, then there’s black face in the morning on #jogodepanelas to prove otherwise.
Why is BlackFace racism?
Blackface is the name given to the characterization by non-black people with characters attributed to blacks. Here in Brazil, the figure of the ‘nega maluca’ in the Carnivals throughout the country was naturalized as a way of forcing the stereotype of the sexualized mulata, with cabelo crespo (kinky/curly hair), with red lips and the ridiculing of being black through an exaggerated caricature. This racist ‘homage’ in a humorous tone became naturalized for centuries and even with all the national and international information on the subject, many refuse to believe that they are offending or discriminating against anyone.
Anyone who thinks that blackface harasses and offends only black Brazilians alone are mistaken, in many countries there is a constant struggle to make people aware of how this “joke” is not joyful or harmless, and has the dimension of how naturalized racism is In societies. In Amsterdam for example, there are protests about the tradition of Santa’s helper Zwarte Piet. According to tradition, Zwarte Piet, a black-skinned figure with bright eyes, curly hair and red mouth, appears in December bringing gifts. It climbs through the chimneys of the houses while people sleep, to bring their gifts. Since the beginning of the 21st century discussions have arisen about the racist nature of this character.
In the United States practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes in relation to African Americans. In 1848, minstrel shows with blackfaces were an American national art of the time translated into formal art, like operas in popular terms for a general audience. In the early 20th century, blackface branched off from minstrel shows and became a genre of its own, until it ended with the Black Civil Rights Movement in 1960.
Willian may not have the racist conscience of the practice that he committed, but the whole production of the program should do a recycling of contents that go to the air, after all, it is imagined that in the largest station of the country if there are researchers of the history, a team would point out the mistakes and correct them before a program goes on the air.
Source: Pragmatismo Político
This is awful! Afro-Brazilians are beautiful!