Today at CEERT, the Research Center on Labor Relations and Inequalities, Dr. Maria Aparecida Silva Bento taught us a lot about racial discrimination in Brazil and how to hold corporations accountable for fair hiring practices. One of the challenges she raised at the end of the of our group conversation was talking to kids about racism and discrimination because it is so powerful that these discussions “take away their happiness.” She stated that teaching Afro-Brazilian kids about racism makes their lives more difficult than just acknowledging discrimination based on class. This theme of class discrimination being more palatable than racism has been a central explanation for the appeal of racial democracy. Dr. Bento then raised the question of how to talk about this topic without taking away kids’ happiness.
This challenge is the space in which I think Black music and art can play a vital role in raising consciousness about, and fighting, racism. I have visited with Olodum, AfroReggae, and members of the Brazilian hip hop movement, all of which use music to confront and change the oppression of Afro-Brazilians. The kids in the favelas at Afro-Reggae were completely immersed in the joy, focus, and excitement of their performances and practices. Similarly, Francisco, who I wrote about in my last blog, identified hip hop as the impetus for him talking about racism and even attending a university. He spoke about hip hop with such passion and stated that fighting racism is now part of his life because he can do it through this music.
Finally, Joao Jorge Santos Rodrigues, the director of Olodum, views music, culture, and identity as the primary ways in which Afro-Brazilians can challenge the government’s racist policies and practices. He stated that because the powerful elite and the state have not funded Black music, it has no control over it. This music, Rodrigues stated, is “our energy for freedom.” This combination of the independence of Black music, the way it helps young Afro-Brazilians create joy and confidence in themselves, and the music’s race conscious content create a fertile environment for teaching kids about racism while increasing, rather than decreasing their happiness.
This challenge is the space in which I think Black music and art can play a vital role in raising consciousness about, and fighting, racism. I have visited with Olodum, AfroReggae, and members of the Brazilian hip hop movement, all of which use music to confront and change the oppression of Afro-Brazilians. The kids in the favelas at Afro-Reggae were completely immersed in the joy, focus, and excitement of their performances and practices. Similarly, Francisco, who I wrote about in my last blog, identified hip hop as the impetus for him talking about racism and even attending a university. He spoke about hip hop with such passion and stated that fighting racism is now part of his life because he can do it through this music.
Finally, Joao Jorge Santos Rodrigues, the director of Olodum, views music, culture, and identity as the primary ways in which Afro-Brazilians can challenge the government’s racist policies and practices. He stated that because the powerful elite and the state have not funded Black music, it has no control over it. This music, Rodrigues stated, is “our energy for freedom.” This combination of the independence of Black music, the way it helps young Afro-Brazilians create joy and confidence in themselves, and the music’s race conscious content create a fertile environment for teaching kids about racism while increasing, rather than decreasing their happiness.
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