Battling Racism Theme of Some Rio Carnival Parades
Some samba groups put together dance numbers to honor Afro-Brazilian heritage, and one built a giant Nelson Mandela float. The float was meant to remind people of his fight for equality, while calling for more racial integration in this South American country, which has more blacks than any nation aside from Nigeria.
Top-tier samba group Imperatriz Leopoldinense said it was inspired by an incident of racism in soccer, when a banana was thrown at Barcelona star Dani Alves during a match last year against Villarreal. The Brazilian Alves ignited a movement against racism in soccer after he was seen cooly picking up the banana and eating it before taking a corner kick.
"People think that discrimination in Brazil is a thing of the past," said Andre Bonatte, who helps coordinate cultural affairs for Imperatriz. "But we are here to say it is not like that. There are still many racist displays in our society."
Advocates say blackface makeup during Carnival is one such display. Some people have complained this year of Carnival street parties where people use blackface, including one called "Luxury Maids" in which white men wear black makeup, Afro wigs and dress as servants.
"It is shocking that something so explicitly and ridiculously racist is being treated as a funny tradition worth preserving," wrote columnist Jarid Arraes, an online magazine.
http://news.yahoo.com/fighting-racism-theme-rio-carnival-parades-230629756.html
