Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:18 am Post subject: Black History Month in America: How is it in Brazil?
What figures, names, and heroes do school aged Brazilians celebrate and recognize as individual African or politcal term black contribution to society there?
Well, to start off with, Zumbi, the "king" of the 17th century Palmares Republic.
Abolition Day is usually celebrated by black cultural weeks or months in most big cities.
As for black heroes and public figures, recognized by most Brazilians and taught in schools - and which thus should be recognizable to kids who stay awake and pay attention - we have Machado de Assis, Pelé, Marcilio Dias, Mãe Menina, Gilberto Gil, Benedita da Silva and a whole slew of artists, athletes and musicians.
This is just ff the top of my head and I'm only listing the really BASIC names, the ones EVERYONE should remember.
Keep in mind that most schoolage Brazilians probably couldn't name more than a dozen WHITE public figures, either.
As for "African" contributions to society, the line everyone learns from kindergarden on is that Brazil is a tri-racial composite, with African, European and Native American contributuons. Depending on the teacher, you'll get a varying list of contributions. It used to be that all Africans were supposed to be good for in this respect was samba, capoeira and candomblé. Now, however, that's begun to change and most good profs offer lessons on black Brazilian history, literature and such, similar to what kids in the states get during black history month. Unfortunately, there aren't that many good professors in the Brazilian public school system. _________________ Brazil is the country of the future and always will be!
Looks like very little appreciation of African contribution in Brazil. I would be tired of African contributions after more than four centuries of oppression and such. Too much time spent. Later.
CtF, we're talking about what gets taught in public schools here. It's not much more in U.s. public schools, believe me. Most white suburban kids in the US couldn't name you a longer list than the one I just gave, unless they dipped heavily into sports and music figures, which I purposefully left out here. _________________ Brazil is the country of the future and always will be!
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