BRAZIL: Slaves of Discrimination

By Fabiana Frayssinet Reprint | | Print |

Fabiana Frayssinet

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jul 15 1996 (IPS) - Every time Reginaldo goes into a bank the revolving doors are invariably jammed. A salesman, he is well dressed and goes frequently to the bank. But the security guards are always suspicious. Reginaldo is black.

“When a white walks into the bank they don’t close the revolving doors. For me, this is proof of the racism which exists in the country,” he said.

This type of experience is frequently repeated by blacks and mixed race people interviewed randomly in central Rio de Janeiro recently.

“Racism is even present in the apartment blocks where there is one service lift, and another social one. The domestic employees have to go up in the service lift, especially if we’re black,” said Martha.

In a country where more than 44 percent of the population is black or mixed race, racism here is more subtle and therefore more dangerous, said Ivan, a musician and actor in the Pernambuco Black Movement.

“There is a false image held abroad that the races here live alongside each other in harmony. Racism does exist, and is even worse because it is camouflaged,” he said.

Ivan puts his faith in the black movement which has gone a long way to help recover the pride of African descendents in Brazil, fighting for their rights.

“What makes me angry is that the majority here are black, what we eat has African origins, the music is black, and even the language has incorporated African terms,” said the musician.

Brazil was the last nation on the continent to abolish slavery, in 1888. Joel Rufino, a renowned historian and writer, said these chains are still fresh in the collective unconscious.

In an interview with IPS, Rufino said latent racism is also encouraged by the economic development model which has relegated the black population to tasks rejected by the rest of the population.

Statistics on income distribution in Brazil — the most unbalanced in the world — leave little room for doubt on the extent to which the economic divisions have a racial character. Nearly a third of all working Afro-Brazilians earn the equivalent of only 112 dollars per month.

In the education sector the picture is not much better: the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) says illiteracy is 2.5 times higher amongst blacks than whites. Twelve percent of whites finish the third level of primary education compared with 2.5 percent of blacks.

When they get to University there is yet another obstacle to overcome.

“A black intellectual must be that much better than a white one to become well known in their area,” said Rufino. “There is no way that Brazil can be justly described as a racial democracy.”

According to a study released in Geneva by Maurice Glele- Ahanhanzo, a special officer of the United Nations, the vision of a “multicoloured Brazil” is merely a mask.

Glele-Ahanhanzo, whose paper was based on considerable research, said in the 1990 Brazilian census respondents used more than 100 different terms to describe their skin tone in efforts to avoid being classed as black.

“There is a sort of colour heirarchy in Brazil and it seems there is no doubt that a very dark skin is an obstacle to social promotion,” he concluded.

The problem of racism in the nation was openly approached for the first time in a meeting in Brasilia recently. The “International Seminathe SDLP are heading for Dublin and talks with John Bruton, which are due to begin at 1930. The funeral of Dermot McShane, killed in the weekend rioting, is taking place about now. Staffing. Sections this morning include Violence: More violence erupted in Northern Ireland overnight but on nothing like the scale of the three previous nights. Labour: Labour has urged the London and Dublin governments to start immediate talks to save the peace process. Tourism: Escalating violence in Northern Ireland has dealt a big blow to the province’s tourism prospects, a travel chief warned.

ROYAL Divorce: The Prince and Princess of Wales have been granted a decree nisi in a two-minute hearing at the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court in central London. Story running.

CRIME Father: We are conducting a pooled interview about now with Dr Shaun Russell, whose wife and daughter were battered to death in Kent.

HEALTH Twins: Siamese twin girls born with a shared heart were in a stable condition in hospital in Glasgow today. Staffing 1200 press conference at Yorkhill Hospital.

CRIME School: Smiling children returned to St Luke’s School today _ a week after a knifeman ran amok in the school grounds. Story soon.

CITY Energy: The controversial privatisation of British Energy, the company running the UK’s eight most modern nuclear power stations, appeared to be heading for a flop this morning. After the first few minutes of official trading, the shares fell 2p below the 105p price of the first instalment. Q&A being prepared on British Energy and the prospects for those who have invested in it.

COURTS Cricket: Stars of international cricket will pass through the High Court in the libel action beginning today between former England Test stars Allan Lamb and Ian Botham, and Pakistan’s hero Imran Khan. Staffing. With factfiles of the main players. Legal argument has delayed the start of the hearing. Please watch for further advisories.

CRIME Jade: Detectives hunting the killer of schoolgirl Jade Matthews are following up a series of new leads following a strong public response to a weekend appeal.

AIR Show: Colleagues have paid tribute to a Britannia Airways captain who died when a Second World War fighter plane he was flying crashed and burst into flames in front of thousands of spectators at an airshow.

AIR Alliance: Letting British Airways link up with American Airlines will “inflict the greatest harm on the UK consumer”, rival US carrier United Airlines will tell MPs today. In file under 1645 embargo.

COURTS Moynihan: Former Tory sports minister Colin Moynihan and the five-year-old son of a Filipino belly dancer are in a legal battle in the High Court today over the Moynihan family title. Staffing.

COURTS Hillsborough: Five police officers who suffered psychological injuries after tending to victims of the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium disaster today challenged a judge’s ruling that they were not entitled to compensation.

CITY Lloyd’s: Support for the Lloyd’s reconstruction plan, which includes a #3.1 billion settlement offer to hard-hit investors, has grown daily, the insurance market’s chairman will tell more than 2,000 Names attending Lloyd’s annual meeting at the Royal Festival Hall in London today.

AIR Wife: The wife of an amateur pilot was hit on the head by his plane when he attempted an emergency landing in Oxfordshire is recovering in hospital. Interview with pilot expected soon.

POLITICS Asylum: Tough new benefit rules will not hit genuine asylum seekers, Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley insisted today as the Government prepared for a crucial Commons vote in which it will seek to overturn an amendment passed in the Lords to the Asylum and Immigration Bill.

COURTS Sophie: Howard Hughes, the man accused of the murder of Sophie Hook, will be cross examined by the prosecution at his trial at Chester Crown Court today. Staffing.

POLICE Shooting: Two police officers were praised for their bravery today after tackling a gunman who opened fire on them outside a Liverpool nightclub.

LOTTERY Winner: One of the 12 winners of the weekend’s #21.9 million National Lottery rollover jackpot was a 50-year-old slot machine company director from South Wales. Staffing 1130 press conference in Cardiff.

MEDIA Report: The BBC unveils details of its annual report this morning. Staffing 1100 press conference. Story will run under 1530 Tuesday embargo.

SHOWBIZ Barlow: Former Take That star Gary Barlow, whose debut solo single went to straight to No 1 this weekend, has renewed the war of words between him and arch rival Robbie Williams.

SHOWBIZ Breakfast: Former Neighbours star Mark Little is poised to quit Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast.

FOREIGN

RUSSIA Yeltsin: President Yeltsin abruptly cancelled a meeting with US Vice President Al Gore, raising concern about his health. The Kremlin said later the talks would take place at a sanatorium where he was taking a holiday.

LIBYA Riots: A riot which resulted in a bloodbath at a football match in Tripoli is the latest sign of discontent with Colonel Gaddafi’s rule, diplomats in the Libyan capital said.

BRUNEI Birthday: The Prince of Wales and the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson are helping the world richest man, the Sultan of Brunei, celebrate his 50th birthday.

INDIA Stampede: More than 50 worshippers, gathering for a Hindu new moon festival, were killed in stampedes at two holy shrines in India.

GERMANY Escom: Europe’s second largest computer retailer, Escom, said its management had decided to file for bankruptcy.

PROVISIONAL NEWS DIARY FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

TUESDAY JULY 16.

BIRMINGHAM: COSPAR 96: International Space Meeting (to July 20). University of Birmingham. Contact Dr Jacqueline Mitton 01223 564 914.

EDINBURGH: The Biochemical Society conference on “The Life and Death of the Cell” (to July 17). International Conference Centre. Contact Dianne Stilwell 0171 580 5530.

LONDON: Adam Smith Institute conference on the Future of the Privatised Rail Industry (ends). Portman Hotel W1.

TORQUAY: Royal College of Midwives annual conference (to July 19).

YORK: General Synod meets (ends). York University, Heslington. Contact Steve Jenkins 0171 222 9011.

0930 LONDON: Transport Secretary Sir George Young addresses CBI conference on Transport. Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street WC1.

1000 LONDON: Transport Minister Steven Norris launches Government’s summer anti drink-drive campaign. Forecourt in front of old Department of Transport building – 2, Marsham St SW1.

1000 LONDON: British Medical Association hands in petition protesting against the exemption of GP practice staff from the NHS Pension Scheme. 10 Downing Street. 1045 LONDON: Media launch of “30 Days” A One Month Challenge to Support London’s Homeless. The National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place SW1.

1130 LONDON: Launch of the Gun Control Network, an organisation campaigning for tighter gun control post-Dunblane massacre. Rm W1, House of Commons, Westminster. Contact Georgina Mortimer 0181 343 4246.

1400 LONDON: Chancellor Kenneth Clarke addresses CBI conference on the Private Finance Initiative. Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street WC1.

CITY:

Interim results: Amicable Smaller, Gartmore British Income & Growth.

Finals: Moorgate Investment Trust, Parkland Group, Reliance Security.

AGMs: Airflow Streamlines, British Airways, BTG, Courtaulds, CSR, Great Portland Estates, Invesco Asia, Oceana Consolidated, Wyndeham Press Group, Wynnstay Properties, Young & Co Brewery.

EGMs: Formal Group.

WEDNESDAY JULY 17.

EDINBURGH: The Biochemical Society conference on “The Life and Death of the Cell” (ends). International Conference Centre. Contact Dianne Stilwell 0171 580 5530.

SOLIHULL: Council of Local Education Authorities annual conference (to July 19). National Exhibition Centre. Contact Peter Smith 0171 227 2856.

TORQUAY: Royal College of Midwives annual conference (to July 19).

0900 LONDON: Photocall for collection of prints of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s original drawings that has been hidden away for 100 years. First class lounge, Platform, Paddington Station. Conduct Elaine Wilde 01793 515308.

1030 LONDON: The Good Toy Guide Awards. Kensington Roof Gardens.

1100 LONDON: CBI launches their business manifesto “Prospering in a Global Economy”. Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street WC1. Contact Tracey Page 0171 379 7400.

1100 LONDON: The Data Protection Protection Registrar annual report press 0130/RMA YMI10027 U ECO S0A NIE R64 QBXC BORSA MILANO: INDICE MIBTEL MENO 1,51% ALLE ORE 12

(ANSA) – MILANO, 15 LUG – Si appesantisce la flessione del mercato azionario italiano, a due ore dall’apertura. L’indice Mibtel delle ore 12 mostra un ribasso dell’1,52% a quota 10.091, livello che per ora rappresenta anche il minimo di giornata. Le Mediaset passano di mano a 7.375 lire, dopo un’apertura a 7.550 e contro le 7.000 del collocamento. Fino alle ore 12 sono stati scambiati circa 5 milioni di azioni Mediaset. Molto deboli le Banco di Napoli a 545 lire (meno 9,32%); offerte le Stet a 4.820 (meno 3,61). (ANSA). XPC 15-LUG-96 12:06

= 07151010 DAP0013