Electing a Black President in Brazil

Following the historic election of Barack Obama in the United States, Reuters reflected on the possibility of electing a black president in Brazil. Here's a bit of the article:

... latent discrimination is rampant, as illustrated in the scant presence of blacks in television and advertising. Blacks also fare among the worst in health and education indicators.

Infant mortality among blacks is 40 percent higher than among whites, and illiteracy rates among blacks are also much higher.

Brazil has only had seven black ministers since democracy was restored in 1985, according to a UFRJ study.

Five of them have been under the current leftist leader, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but they still tend to be limited to certain policy areas such as culture, sports and racial equality.

Analysts say it will take years before blacks take on powerful positions, and that only then would the ground be laid for an eventual black president.

"For us to have a black president in Brazil, we would need to have (blacks) at the head of companies, universities, town halls," Paixao said.

...

"It's part of the vision of Brazilian elites to disguise racial inequalities," said Santos, the equality minister. "But it is obvious when you have access to our social pyramid and see that it is white at its top and black at the base."

For working-class blacks, the prospect of a black president seems distant.

"The same racism continues in the U.S. and in Brazil today," said a 45-year-old construction worker in the capital Brasilia who gave his name as Ze Luis.

Read the full article here.

Thanks to Tanja from Grupo Aprendendo Angola for the article link.

Its Been a Long Time Coming...

Not for nothing, but...


all right!

Good job, USA!


"They still call it the White House
But that's a temporary condition, too.
Can you dig it, CC?"

- George Clinton, 1975
"Chocolate City"

History in the Making as the Past Continues to Haunt Us

As recent economic tides demonstrate, what happens in the United States- for good or for bad- resounds deeply around the world.

Intrinsic to the future of the world economy, the 2008 U.S presidential race electrified the world even before the banking crisis hit. In Brazil, the potential of a black man at the helm of its powerful and influential northern neighbor - and truly the world- has caused great excitement.

The Bahian newspaper Folha de Salvador recently asked some prominent black leaders in the community to reflect on what a black American president would mean for Brazil. Here's what they had to say:

Lázaro Passos Cunha (Director of Projects, Steve Biko Cultural Institute)
“Brazilian society has always accused the United States of practicing a more radical racism than exists here, but Brazil is a much more exclusive nation. With the election of Obama, I believe that the changes, in terms of our nation, will come about through pressures that will be put upon the elites that question the politics of affirmative action such as the implementation of quotas in the universities, but are not concerned about the quality of our public elementary schools."

Cláudia Santos (Professor of Ethnic African Studies and militant of the newspaper Irohín – which means “news” in Yoruba)
“The idea of a black president is something that has already been considered in our society since the beginning of the last century. The 1926 novel The Black President by Monteiro Lobato touched upon the possibility of the rise of a black man in the political arena. Lobato chose the year 2228 for his character to campaign and win the presidency of the United States. Today, we see Obama as a revision of all the stereotypes of ineptitude associated with being black and this is the fruit of the public political process. He is an inspiration for us in all senses, but we are part of a different history. It is necessary that we recognize and valorize our origins and fight to strengthen our ethnic-racial debates at the center of our political discussions so that we have a chance to arrive at that point."

Gilvan Assunção (Founder of UNEGRO – Union of Blacks for Equality, União de Negros pela Igualdade)
“Obama is a man who is rising but maintaining one foot on the floor, avoiding to become a star. He was able to surpass all the accusations that they made against him unscathed. Today, he is qualified to be a great leader of blacks all over the world. Even though he has not won the presidency, he is already a very positive influence, in large part for the youth. In our movement here in Brazil we are on the right path but we cannot reflect upon ourselves only in that which they are doing outside the country. We need to be aggressive because things here are a bit slow, due to the historical process in which blacks were placed.

Antônio Carlos dos Santos, Vovô (Founder and President of the Bloco Afro Ilê Ayê)
“The visibility that he [Obama] has due to the fact that he may be the first black man to govern a major world power certainly makes us re-think our situation. However, we have a culture that prejudges us and it needs to be changed; many blacks still suffer under mental slavery and do not vote for the black candidate. In South Africa, when given the opportunity to vote for a black man, they elected Mandela and changed their situation. Here, we have always had this instrument, but we don’t know how to use it. It is embedded in our culture to believe that only whites can solve our problems.”

You can read the whole article here (in Portuguese).

And despite the progress in the United States, the fact that a letter like this needs to be printed in a major American newspaper shows we still have a long long way to go. Thanks to Njoli for the link.

Fighting Shirley Chisholm: Unbought & Unbossed

In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first woman and the first African American to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. She is also remembered as a tireless worker for the disadvantaged, a great orator, and one of America’s boldest challengers of the status quo.

Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1924. In 1953, she graduated from Brooklyn College and later earned a Master’s Degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. She worked in the educational field.

In 1964, Chisholm entered politics, winning a seat on the New York State Legislature. Four years later, she ran for New York’s Twelfth Congressional District Seat. With the campaign slogan, “Fighting Shirley Chisholm- Unbought and Unbossed” she won the election and became the first black woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. Of her win she noted, “That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black and a woman proves, I think, that our society is not yet either just or free.”

A continual advocate for the rights of the poor, women, and children and a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War, Chisholm was never intimidated and continually challenged the status quo. In her first speech in front of the House she promised, “to vote ‘No’ on every money bill that comes to the floor of this House that provides any funds for the Department of Defense."


In January of 1972, she announced her candidacy for the Democratic party’s nomination for the Presidency. She ran a grassroots campaign that had very little money, and at times faced opposition from black male politicians who resented her as being “the first to run”.
She was physically attacked three times on the campaign trail, but she remained undaunted, saying, "If you can't support me, get out of my way."

Chisholm took 151 delegates, but she did not win the nomination. She served in the U.S. Congress until 1982. She founded and chaired the National Political Congress of Black Women. She continued working as an educator and speaker until her death in 1995.

Chisholm’s legacy of fearless politics continues to resonate today.

Former Chisholm campaigner and current member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Barbara Lee bravely stood alone on the Congressional floor in opposition to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), President George Bush’s demand for a blank check to fund a military response in the frenzied wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001 (She stated that it was not sound policy to let the President attack anyone, anywhere, especially when the facts of the situation were not clear.)

In her 1973 book, The Good Fight, Chishom wrote, “"The next time a woman runs, or a black, or a Jew or anyone from a group that the country is ‘not ready' to elect to its highest office, I believe that he or she will be taken seriously from the start… I ran because somebody had to do it first. In this country, everybody is supposed to be able to run for President, but that has never really been true."

It only took 36 more years…

Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed!

You are truly an inspiration.

This post will wrap up our Black History Month celebration of great Americans. If you would like to write a short report on a memorable historical figure whose life accomplishments and values are relevant to the philosophy and history of Capoeira Angola, please feel free to submit it to us at: ficadcarchives (at) gmail (dot) com.

As always, we can do the translation English <-> Portuguese.

American Heroes: The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen served as the United States’ first black Flying Squadron. They distinguished themselves in American history not only for their brave feats during World War II against the Axis Powers, but also for smashing long-held racial prejudices in the U.S. Army and in the country.

In 1941, under pressure from the NAACP, the black press, and others, the U.S. Congress passed a series of measures that forced the Army Air Corps to form an all-black air force unit to be trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. Due to the racist policies of the Army, there had never been a black airman. Many Army officials questioned the intelligence, motivation, and patriotism of American blacks, and the Air Corps resisted the mandate from Congress by setting very high standards for recruits.

Despite these efforts, the Corps received hundreds of applications from all over the country. And due to the high standards it set, the men who entered the program were largely college-educated, highly motivated, disciplined, and thus, destined to succeed (and ultimately discredit much of the racist propaganda that the Air Corps had presented in its opposition to training black airmen).

In June of that year, the 99th Fighter Squadron was formed. The men trained to be pilots, navigators, engineers, control tower operators, bombardiers, administrative clerks, and other positions necessary for a fully-functioning Air Corps flying squad.

The 99th was sent to fly missions out of Northern Africa. In 1943, in its first mission on the island of Sicily, the Squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its outstanding tactical air support and aerial combat.

Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (who later became the first black General in the U.S. Airforce) and Capt. Edward Gleed.

In 1944, the 99th was joined by three other all-black squadrons to form the 332nd Fighter Group.

Throughout the war, these airman distinguished themselves for their skill and bravery, serving as escorts for bombers, shooting down enemy planes, and even sinking a German destroyer. Originally nicknamed the “Redtails” because the tails of their aircraft were painted red, this name was modified to the “Redtail Angles” due to their aerial prowess.

It is often said that the Tuskegee Airmen fought two wars: one abroad and one at home. At home in the United States, the Airmen were faced with racism and doubts about their qualifications. At Tuskegee, the men were isolated from white air squadrons. At other training grounds, black recruits often faced enormous racism, including being barred from officers’ clubs, or being treated below their rank. On the war front in Northern Africa and Europe, black officers were sometimes left out of briefings and even faced false accusations of underperformance (which were disproved by military records).

In all, 992 pilots were trained in Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946; about 445 deployed overseas, and 150 Airmen lost their lives in training or combat. The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded several Silver Stars, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars and 744 Air Medals.

In 1948, U.S. President Harry Truman ended segregation in the country’s military forces.

In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were honored with a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal.

Click here to see some amazing archival pictures of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Read these extraordinary accounts of the Airmen.

Click here to read about one Tuskegee Airman’s service during World War II.

Literary Edition: Langston Hughes

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
by Langston Hughes

I've known rivers:

I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.



My soul has grown deep like the rivers.



I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.


I've known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.


My soul has grown deep like the rivers.



Langston Hughes wrote this stunning poem when he was only seventeen years old, as he crossed the Mississippi River by train on his way to visit his father in Mexico.

Born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902, Hughes was raised largely by his grandmother. He published his first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, which included "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", in 1926.

While attending Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (where he was a classmate of Thurgood Marshall) and working odd jobs, Hughes continued to publish poetry which was met with much critical acclaim.

Hughes settled in Harlem, New York as a fulltime writer and became an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s.

His work is noted for its emphasis on racial consciousness and black pride at a time when many were trying to integrate into mainstream white society. The rhythms of his poetry were inspired by jazz and blues, and his themes by black folk culture, especially the stories his grandmother told him when he was young.

Hughes would go on to write sixteen poetry collections, two novels, three collections of short stories, eleven plays, three autobiographies, children’s books, films scripts, musicals, operas, and many print articles.

He died on May 22, 1967 at the age of 65.

Harriet Tubman: Symbol of American Courage

Harriet Tubman (far left) with fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman is an American icon of courage and determination.

Born Araminta Ross around 1820 in Dorchester, Maryland, she grew up in slavery. She was often beaten, and at one point suffered a serious head injury when an angry slaveowner hit her with a heavy metal weight. She would be plagued by headaches and seizures for the rest of her life. In 1844, she married John Tubman and it is thought that around this time she changed her name to Harriet.

In 1849, Tubman feared that she would be sold down South, so she escaped to Philadelphia. She soon returned to Maryland to help her family escape. Over the course of ten years, she would make at least 19 trips into the South to “conduct” more than 300 slaves to the north of the United States through a network of safe houses, routes, and hiding places known as the Underground Railroad.

A map of some of the routes on the Underground Railroad.

The trips were wrought with peril, and Tubman had a few narrow escapes, her PBS biography notes that:

Tubman returned to the South again and again. She devised clever techniques that helped make her "forays" successful, including using the master's horse and buggy for the first leg of the journey; leaving on a Saturday night, since runaway notices couldn't be placed in newspapers until Monday morning; turning about and heading south if she encountered possible slave hunters; and carrying a drug to use on a baby if its crying might put the fugitives in danger. Tubman even carried a gun which she used to threaten the fugitives if they became too tired or decided to turn back, telling them, "You'll be free or die."

By 1856, Tubman's capture would have brought a $40,000 reward from the South. On one occasion, she overheard some men reading her wanted poster, which stated that she was illiterate. She promptly pulled out a book and feigned reading it. The ploy was enough to fool the men.

Tubman became an important figure in the American abolitionist movement, working with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. She spoke to audiences all over the Northeast and helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harper's Ferry. During the American Civil War, she worked in the Union Army as a cook, nurse, armed scout, and a spy. She even led an expedition into war that freed more than 700 slaves.

Following the war, she was a part of the women’s suffrage movement, working closely with Susan B. Anthony and participating in speaking tours.

Tubman, often called the “Moses of her people”, died on March 10, 1913. She was buried with military honors in Auburn, New York.

Today, Tubman is honored across this nation. There are hundreds of public schools named after her, her image appeared on a U.S. postal stamp in 1995, and she is even considered a saint by the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

Click here for more information on Harriet Tubman.

February is Black History Month

In the United States and Canada, February is officially recognized as Black History Month. Since we at the blog like to celebrate all sorts of things, we’re going to use this opportunity to devote the (rest of the) month to talking about some great Americans who have helped shape the country. Please feel free to submit something as part of our celebration.

But first, a little history behind Black History Month:

Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week which was established by Carter Woodson in 1926.

Woodson, the son of former slaves, worked in the coal mines of Kentucky until he enrolled in high school at the age of twenty. He went on earn a Ph.D from Harvard University, and publish many scholarly articles and books. During his studies, Woodson was disappointed to find that American history books almost completely neglected the contributions of black Americans.

To ameliorate this problem, Woodson established Negro History Week with the strong belief that blacks should be proud and empowered by their history, and that other Americans should recognize the contributions of blacks to American history. He choose the second week in February because it included Fredrick Douglass’ and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. This week built on the work of other black organizations that had been working for greater recognition of the contribution of blacks to American history.

Woodson envisioned the week as a period of lectures, educational discussions, debates, performances, and other events that would serve to educate all Americans. Negro History Week was embraced immediately by black communities, and within twenty-five years, it was a well-established national commemoration, endorsed by government officials and celebrated in schools across the country. In 1976, the week was expanded to a month.

The celebration of Black History Month has not been without its detractors. Some argue that black history should be celebrated all year, not just in February. Others complain that black history is American history. Both of these ideas are valid and in fact, Woodson looked forward to the day when Black History Month would no longer be necessary; when American history books would tell the complete history of the country.

Living the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most significant and memorable speeches in American history to a crowd of more than 250,000 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC as part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A tireless activist, Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights and labor leader who defied American racists and oppressors, not with their own weak weapons of hatred and fear, but with love and a call for understanding.

In the same year that he made this speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. was honored as Time magazine's Man of the Year, and the next year, he would be the youngest man to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April of 1968, but as with those singular few true leaders in history, his legacy lives on in his actions, words, and the millions of people he inspired (and continues to inspire).

While progress has been made in race relations in the United States, there is still much work to be done here and around the world, and the gravity of Martin Luther King, Jr's words continues to apply today.

"...We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges

...

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" ... No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

...

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

...

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true

...

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Are you satisfied?

Be inspired: read the whole speech and watch it on video here.