by
Black Girl With Long Hair
By Marques Travae of BlackWomenofBrazil.com
The secretary of state of the northeastern state of Maranhão is investigating an alleged crime of racism against a 19-year old woman. Ana Carolina Bastos (pictured above), a student of the Unidade Integrada Estado do Pará, on the outskirts of the capital city of São Luís, reported that she was barred from class by the director of the school on the first day of class.
According to Bastos, on February 23rd, the director, Socorro Bohatem, stopped her at the entrance of the school and told her that she was dressed in an “inadequate” way. Following an objection by Ana Carolina, who defended herself by saying that another young, (white) girl, wore a more low-cut dress than hers and was not barred, to which the director explained that she could not get into school because of the “black power” hairstyle. According to the student, the director was astonished by her choice of hairstyle, asked why she wore her hair “in that way” and told her leave the building. “The other student wore a top and a very low-cut dress. It was my style that didn’t please her. It was a case of racism. Later I found out that this was not the first time something like this happened”, said the student.
The local media get details about the incident from Ana Carolina Bastos
The student who continues to attend classes at the school where the incident occurred, filed a complaint with the police and now intends to enter a complaint against the director in the State Public Ministry of the State (MPE). The teacher also continued performing her duties as normal.
Ana Carolina Bastos speaks to the press about the incident and protest
In an official statement, the government replied that it “will hear the parties involved and take appropriate action.” On Friday of last week, dozens of students and members of the Movimento Negro held a protest carrying banners and signs against the action of the director in front of the school. To the students, the director said that she had not behaved in a racist manner. The local press tried to talk to the teacher, but the Secretary of Education reported that she could not give interviews in order to preserve the investigation process.
Racism is a crime
The young Ana Carolina is part of a group that plays African-oriented music in São Luís. Her dream is to be a sociologist so that she can fight for minorities in the capital city of Maranhão. “When I was barred, my sister cried and I was horrified. A lot of people were looking at me. It was a massacre. I wasn’t start anything. I go to school to be someone in life”, said the student. “I have a black identity and I will not change it,” she added.
Ana Carolina (in black top) with her sister
This is the second episode involving actions of racism in Maranhão in less than a year. In July, the rectory of the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA) opened an administrative procedure to investigate a complaint that a teacher, José Cloves Verde Saraiva, had humiliated a student enrolled in the Chemical Engineering course, Nuhu Ayuba. So far, the investigation has not been completed.
Participants of public rally
According to Claudicea Durans of the group Raça e Classe do Maranhão (Race and Class of Maranhão):“black men and women have experienced situations of humiliation and racial slurs on a daily basis in different public spaces and these acts are often expressed in different ways: racist jokes, police beatings, moral and physical aggressions, that often go unreported because of the embarrassment, humiliation, sadness and frustration that its causes the people that denounce them”, but, Durans continues, “they must be reported in order to serve as examples and may in fact be punished because racism, according to Brazilian law, is a non-bailable and imprescriptible crime.”
Education without racism
“Racism has different facets. The use of negative stereotypes and ridicule of physical characteristics and traits is another aspect of racism, which is in our analysis, at the same time silent, cruel and violent, it acts to deny the black identity, destroys cultural, historical, and physical values of this population, destroying their self-esteem.
“The fact that this discriminatory attitude occurred in school leads us to reflect that this situation is common in the school environment and that the school has historically been an instrument of reproduction of dominant ideologies, and racism, one more element to ensure the oppression and exploitation of blacks.”
It’s crazy that discrimination against natural hair is so blatant and common in Brazil. Ladies, what are your thoughts?
Check out BlackWomenofBrazil.com for more coverage of black women living in Brazil.
121 Responses
this is why the government was so desperate to stop the “black power” movement in america before it spread to the rest of the world. too late.
I’m so tired of my ppl having to go through this!!! Enough is enough!! Our ppl are beautiful and strong! Black is beautiful!
It’s especially crazy because Brazil has the 2nd largest population of blacks outside of the predominately black countries in Africa.
Nice looking.
Really, this is a hairstyle that appears in fashion ads, on runways, movies, television. People of other skin tones and countries also wear their hair, if they have enough of it and they can get it to grow and shape it like this, will attempt it to look this good. It is a young look, stylish, hip, very free, very now. Should not be a distraction, unless you like looking at beautiful things instead of studying. How backwards of them. I would have expected more enlightened attitudes, but I guess they are still in the 19th century. Old paradigms.
I am so proud of this young girl for wanting to wear her own hair style. Here in America, Blacks are always “hating on Whitey” and yet the black girls are constantly wearing “weaves of Japanese hair and also blond long hair weaves”. If they hate “whitey” so much then why do they want to look like white girls that have “long natural hair and blonde hair”?
I fully back this young woman that wants to stay “true” to her culture and nationality.
Another Hispanic bimbo on here hating on black folks, lol. WHat else is new? Please leave before you make yourself look even more stupid. BUH-BYE!
There in America FAR MORE black women and girls are embracing their natural afro hair and rejecting white/european/asian hair types of any form in recognition of white stereotypes of beauty. Obviously you only see what you choose to see. Not ALL black women want to look ‘white’!
Whites are not the only ones who have long hair, or blonde hair. Black aboriginals in Australia have naturally blonde hair, as do some of African descent her in the United States. Also, women of ALL races have long hair.
A single episode lead you to conclude that “discrimination against natural hair is so blatant and common in Brazil.” Stereotype much?
Actually if you care to look/google/research there are sadly many many many such examples of varying types that all point to the same thing. I’m guessing you want to believe racism just doesn’t happen, along with stereotyping much?
Actually….just scroll down and read Grasi’s comment. She appears to be a native of Brazil. Go argue with her.
would love to interview you on our radio show “speaking to harmony”
what idiot made a hairstyle part of the black movement.. whites were smart man they just used clothing.. and now they can wear their hair any way they want..
The situation here in Brazil may be even worse than this, I can imagine what Ana felt and I’m not shocked because that’s the reality for natural hair here. I envy(in a good way ^^) you American girls who can rock your natural more freely. Ana was probably wearing an afro( called “black power” here) and you can’t wear an fro on a typical Brazilian city without getting a lot of attention and the “side eye”(I hope I wrote it right!).
The most gentle people might say “oh! that’s cool, you’re ACCEPTING your hair”, that’s the very word they use “accept”, like it is a bad thing and we finally decided to accept it. It is interesting because in the first picture her hair is not even in an afro hairstyle, actualy it’s like a twist out or something, now can imagine if she was wearing an full afro…
When I went natural, I remember that my mom couldn’t see my hair in it’s natural state, “Do your hair!” she said, she has very loose curls and beautiful hair but she never wears her hair down because of its volume. I know that this kind of view is not her fault, that’s the most people are raised.
Even if you have curly hair it might be a problem, if your hair has lots of volume plus the kinky texture, you better be prepared to get a lot of attention.
If one day some of you come here and face the racism as bad as it sounds…don’t be surprised, racism is pretty much the norm here and most people are not aware of this reality, they think they are not racist but can’t even stand natural hair(kinky hair).
There’s a difference between black in America and in Brazil, I’ve never been in the US myself but I see that you guys have o lot TV shows with black people(Everybody hates Chris and etc…I love it!) and here in brazil you can hardly find black people on the mainstream media, there are some successful black people but not enough for us to relate to.
I’m not saying that my country is a bad country but when it comes to race and other things a lot of people are very misunderstood, there is a lot hypocrites here.
This is so sad to hear, especially considering that you have a larger population of Blacks than in America. Yes, God has helped us to make much progress, but we are still fighting. I pray for the victory for my Black ppl all around the world!
We’ve made no progress. I’ve studied in Brazil and while the racism is obvious and problematic, the people are lot more socially & politically aware.
This is one of those moments I would have been so shocked I honestly don’t know what I would’ve said. I would have been so stunned.
I’m a white british girl and I hate straighteners. I own a pair but use them very infrequently. I don’t even have curly hair but love far more to see people of all ethnicities let their hair go about the way it’s meant to. I love hair like this girl has and to me it has more life and vibrancy than anything else. History aside, and I style my own upon my own celtic background (wild as it grows), it just looks so much nicer. Free hair represents a free spirit and should not be judged as some sort of statement about power, more about individuality. It’s appauling that someone should be dismissed from class on appearance in this way. She clearly looks after her hair! If people in this world want to go about looking like robots then that’s up to them. I prefer working what the Lord gave me.
I don’t understand what they mean by ‘Black Power’ hairstyle. We don’t have any power…We’re the most marginalized people on this planet.
Hairstyles transmitted to Brazil from the States, in the wake of the protest at the Mexico City Olympics. Happened at the same time that Che was stirring the pot all over Sud America. So, the one became identified with the other, more so in the minds of Establishment types than among the fashion forward.
My guess is that the school administrator is in his fifties or older. Everybody tends to see the world through the lens of their own youth.
omg! This makes me to do not want to go down to Brazil due to DISRESPECT! *SHRUG*
Im sad this happened to this girl in brazil but i still think that some of us black people need to release that there are others who go through more racial abuse than us such as muslims and jews. Even in England when i live my friends who are eastern european and irish have gone through shocking racist abuse that i’ve never even suffered so i cant even blame white people because i know that just like us we can discriminate against someone the same race as us.I also think that just because someone relaxes or weaves their have does not mean the wanna be white which is stupid because if your hair is black and straight then your hair will look more like other ethnic groups not just white, we need to learn to get along with everyone its the 21st century.
When I was in Thailand, I chatted with a young woman who did modeling as a side job. She was planning on surgery to ’round’ her eyes. Naturally, I assumed that this was a nefarious cultural influence. She argued persuasively that it was nothing of the kind. Thailand was never a colony of any European power, nor was its pop culture infiltrated by any foreign influences, excepting Chinese and Indian. (Which makes sense, because the Thai are a thorough and ancient mixing of both peoples.)
It was just fashion. Lots of plastic surgeons to make the lady boys, who now had time on their hands. Affordable alternative to tattoos, I guess.
Unfortunately it goes deeper than your ‘explanation’ and has deep roots. Check history books; watch 12 Years a Slave; talk to people outside of your usual circle; watch documentaries; go Google it! If only it was as simple as you think it is. Sigh.
This is totally true, I have been talking about this for the last few years. I worked at Disney and in the department where they created highschool musical. A top executive there, white, blonde female who worked on casting Highschool Musical 1 and 2. Cast fat girls in most of the shows that were shot in Tornonto. Or she cast young girls with braid extensions. On one show she cast several fat young black girls, around the ages of 8 and 9. When I asked her why she discriminated against young black girls by doing so, she said she was trying to not discriminate against fat people. So I said, then why are all the fat kids black? I was then harassed by all the white women in the office for being thin. I was an aspiring writer. All of the beautiful black women aspring to be actresses in LA RARELY Booked roles. It was and is always someone fat and brown or black. The light skinned Halle Berry is supposed to represent the sole beautiful black women out there, like some strange anomaly. Angela Bassett only played beautiful in Stella Got Her Groove Back, a black film. She is strikingly beautiful — so there! I think we need to up the currency of black women by putting our best on display. Beauty has classical definitions that spring from the first civilizations in Kush (Egypt was it’s satellite colony, then rose later). Beauty is universal, it involves balance, mathematical symmetry, balance and harmony. It is immediately recognizable across all races. No, contrary to popular opinion most black people don’t have wide noses. My mother was full black and she had a beautiful nose. We can have beautiful flared nostrils. Nor do we have fat cheeks and baby faces, though some of us do, as do some white folks. Black people have the template for all faces and we are just as diverse, but we also have the perfectly symmetrical and beautiful faces that are reflect the origins of classical concepts of beauty that later civilizations and generations have adopted. We need to up the currency of black women by putting our best on display. When I see Miss Neice being offended by Chescaleigh at a red carpet interview, because Chescaleigh is such a tall, slim, intelligent and classically beautiful woman, you know we are in a battle. When we hear Wendy Williams advises Rachel Crow, saying that she should stay chubby,that it’s good, we know we are in a battle. When Star Jones calls Joy Bryant stupid on the View, because she is beautiful, you know we are in for a battle. A lot of women are working based on that stereotype and they will not happily seek to defy it. Monique wasn’t nominated for Precious for nothing. So ladies, get ready for a fight. See classic beauty: It is real!!!
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plz tell me where you got that first pic, would love to put it on my wall
Cynthia Bailey (from Real Housewives of Atlanta) is the last model, correct? Short hair suits her face.
I am totally encouraged by this young lady!!!!
@EG you really need to tone down. In almost every comment you made u seemed to have deviated from the real TOPIC. What’s up boo?
I think with the amount of energy u have, u could use it in a more positive manner that actually contributes positively towards improving our society, educating others, etc
I so agree that this is a universal site so this comment comes all the way from South Africa baby!!!!!
I love this site, I really do, but it seems to have been invaded by a very ignorant and angry troll.
Brazil is the country the has more black people out of entire Africa.
Alguns casos dos últimos três meses que viraram headlines:
– No supermercado uma pessoa que estava em seu carro foi levada para uma sala reservaa porque eles não admitiam uma pessoa negra ter um carro como aquele. Achavam que estava roubando.
– Garoto africano foi colocado para fora de um restaurante enquanto esperava pelos pais. “Pensaram que fosse um menino de rua”
– Garota foi repreendida na escola em que trabalhava e a diretora ordenou que a mesma prendesse os cabelos ( Natural Hairstyle )
– Advogada condenada a pagar uma indenização para uma funcionária de um banco “Nunca vi negro mandar…”
Alguns casos dos últimos meses….I need a week off to relate all the cases.
In this link you can find out daily articles about racial prejudice.http://www.geledes.org.br/racismo-preconceito
O que mais me espanta é que o Brasil é metade negro. Como pode algumas pessoas pensarem dessa forma? Ridículo.
English! otherwise you come off as a coward who is afraid of the response that he may receive, so he is hinding behind his spanish posts.
Orrrrrr… you could run the comment through Google Translate. This is what he typed:
What amazes me most is that Brazil is half black. How can some people think this way? Ridiculous.
And its Portugeuse not Spanish
Why should I have to go through that trouble? obviously this person took the time to read the comments in english, yet decided to post in spanish.
EG,
Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish.
By writing in his native tongue, any lack of fluency in the translation might be picked up on by another reader, allowing subtleties to be expressed more accurately. He KNOWS his Portuguese is sufficient.
oh please. put it through google translator and stop assuming people want to be crude and rude and ignorant – like you.
anyway, it’s portuguese.
‘Oh please’ yourself. As far as ignorant…..riggghhhhhtttt, like I can’t say the same about you. How about you get over yourself first, then i’ll follow your lead.
Oh, and I don’t give a damn what it is..
Nor we for you.
“O que mais me espanta é que o Brasil é metade negro. Como pode algumas pessoas pensarem dessa forma? Ridículo.”
“What amazes me most is that Brazil is half Black. How can some people think this way? Ridiculous.”
Concordo Fernando!
It’s not SPANISH- it’s PORTUGUESE! And this being an article from the PORTUGUESE-speaking nation of Brazil would make the poster’s PORTUGUESE-language post relevant!
From what I’ve read BGLH has French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch-speaking followers among many others so it makes sense that a site with a multicultural viewership have multilingual interaction! Those who speak/read other languages may recognize, appreciate and respond in a way they wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so in English! Global village and all….
And what is cowardly is attacking every single poster and derailing from this very interesting article!
I know what it wasn’t, and that is english. Yes the article came from a non-english site, but it was translated because regardless of the diversity of the readers, everything on this site is posted in…..you guessed it, english.
This may be a global village, but there is a reason why the saying ‘when in Rome’ has managed to stand the test of time. It is up to the person who posted the statement to translate it if they want to interact.
Lastly, considering that I have not attacked every single poster, than I guess I am safe. Thanks for confirming.
From the Melting Pot into the fire. Just when we think America has issues, another country makes them look like racist sissies. All I can say is God Bless America & the wonderful stacks of papers called the Constitution and Amendments.
Yeah, because the US Constitution has a long history of protecting minorities, women, gays, the native population, immigrants etc.
Oh yeah, it doesn’t.
In some ways it is a blessing that there were laws against the “supposed mixing of the races” and laws that defined “black.” Why? Because you can organize and better address it. It has a name so to speak.
I guess the male black population of present day didn’t get that memo.
I’m just wondering why these narrow minded racist-as-a-mug Brazilians don’t see themselves for the euro trash wannabe whiteman d*** suckers that they are. I’m a little on the ragey side today.
You’re a little on the narrow minded side today, I’d say. Just like the teacher who discriminated the girl.
Another hearbreaking act of racism: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/us-crime-florida-neighborhoodwatch-idUSBRE82709M20120308
A young black boy was shot to death by a neighborhood crime watchman.
Just read about this. Sickening. And of course the shooter is still free.
Sadly from experience as a woman living in brazil, its not just the hair , its an over all discrimination against “difference”. The typical we want lighter skinned , skinny , sliky hair especially hair, unlike in America where you can basically wear whatever hair you want, down here its almost like its a sin :
racism crimes are exploding in brazil
racial crimes are expanding in brazil
racial crimes are expanding everywhere..
Corretíssimo. O pior é que isso não é típico do Brasil, é típico de todos os países do mundo.
exploding makes sense too.
This is in fact very sad and unfortunate. I will never be able to understand why some people in Latin America countries are so ashamed of their African ancestry. Much love and support to the students who are rallying against their director’s ignorance.
“I will never be able to understand why some people in Latin America countries are so ashamed of their African ancestry”
Um it’s not that hard to understand. Latin American countries with black populations also have a long history of discrimination, racism, colonialism and hatred of blacks, blackness and Africanness. Also, in Brazil, since many people there want to act like there is no racism, racial inequalities and the legacy of slavery never really got addressed in a major public manner like it did in the US with the Civil Rights movement. It’s pretty obvious where the self-hate comes from among black Latinos, and it’s not because they’re just weird and backwards. Try living in a country that still devalues your race in such an open and unchecked manner, and then see how you feel about yourself.
Like I said, it’s not that hard to understand.
Relax! “I will never be able to understand” is a common expression used to denote sympathy, not a literal statement necessitating a clarification of race-relations in various countries.
It seemed to be a genuine outpouring of sympathy for Ana Carolina and condemnation of the racist views in Latin America and not one deserving of a flip, derisive reply.
This is really upsetting, and I’m glad these students are fighting for what’s right. A lot of people think those who have looser textured curls (such as the young lady pictured) have it easier in terms of acceptance. However, in many cases, any hair that isn’t straight is looked down upon. A biased person isn’t going to make the distinction between 3b, 4a, etc.
That’s a braid-out. People with looser curls do have it easier because type 3 hair has a lot more shine to it than type 4 without any product in it. Kimmayutube has a head full of healthy hair, but it does not have the shine of a Mahagonyknots, but guess who’a hair is longer. People naturally like shiny things, and that includes hair.
It’s a braid out, but her hair still appears to be a looser texture. As for the “shiny hair” aspect, I think you missed the point. Someone who hates curls does not care if type 3 has a little more shine than type 4. They hate any and all curls period.
In Brazil, it appears they don’t like any kind of curl 3a, 4b whatever and that is the point they are trying to make, because any kind of curl suggests african DNA!
If u look at the black brazilian teacher who was discriminated because of hair – her hair was type 3 curly and shiny.
Also, how could you possible know thats a braid out? That could easily be her natural curl pattern.
I’m trying to see your point, on the one hand you say that the teacher who discriminated against her has type 3 hair, then you say that they don’t differentiate between hair type….
I disagreed with Aisha because people do care about curl pattern, and hair type. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘well, some people have the type of hair to go natural, some do not’. Who do you think falls in the ‘do not’ bucket?
To answer your question: how do I know that her hair is a braid out? I guess the same way you don’t know that it’s not.
Yeah, but you’re thinking like and American, not a brazilian, who not the same as you! Brazilians like straight and nothing else it seems.
We are not talking about your poeple (who I assume are americans). They don’t like any natural hair except type 1. Stop acting as if your american experience is universal. I am from Europe and I asure you, it is not. I’m assuming your experience of who has it easier hair waise is based on your american experience which is hardly universally applicable.
I never said I don’t differentiate between hair type?! What are you talking about? I said the Brazialians do not. My point was they discriminated against someone (a teacher) who has type 3 hair who was black brazlian was discriminated against in brzail by her employer. I’m trying to indicate that brazilians discriminate against all hair types.
very proud of this woman for standing up for herself, and her people.
sending good thoughts her way that she’ll be readmitted to her school so that she’ll continue her studies.
SMH. In other words the simple fact that she exists, that she was born is a sign of black power? Are you kidding. Its hair and hair can be styled in any manner and interpretations vary based on the person roc’n it. The fact that ‘the powers that be’ took a movement of acceptance as being intimidating or a challenge to them says alot. Stuff like this makes my heart hurt. And the teacher has the nerve to say she wasn’t being racist. These type of remarks make me realize that people are throwing around heavy terms without realizing what they actually mean (racism, sexist, discrimination, prejudice, bigot, etc.) Racism/racists is not only equal to horrific acts of violence….Not gonna ramble today. Just ridiculous, smh.
Yes, I do think that for white racists, the simple fact that she exists, that people looking like her haven’t been completely bred out or exterminated is a sign of black power and a direct defiance of their white supremacist agenda.
To such people, if blacks are no longer a source of free labour, then they shouldn’t exist at all let alone prosper and the fact that they continue to do so constitutes some kind of threat to them.
I think I don’t have much to say for myself, as I am a man, but I do expect justice in this case (and many like it) to recognize a clear racist situation, and the teacher and institution get properly penalized. I give all my thoughts and hopes to Ana Carolina, and I pray that the day we’ll all see ourselves as one comes soon.
people are afraid of the original black race, Black power for life, we rule, I don’t understand why some whit people are afraid of the afro, so strange I don’t see black people afraid of their blond hair.
I am just waiting for the apologists from the Vogue Italia post to jump in and make excuses for the professor and/or blame the victim.
Here are some comments that I anticipate:
1) How do you know it was because of your race/hairstyle? It could just be because you were late/disruptive/your outfit was actually distracting
2) Girl, get over yourself/grow a thicker skin/don’t be so damned sensitive/stop crying wolf
3) Yo, that girl’s hair is a hot mess. I would have kicked her a** out the classroom too
4) Some variation of “we, as black people need to stop___”. Could be anything from looking to be offended, guilty of reverse racism, double standards against white people.
I expect non-black people to delegitimize and diminish the experiences of black people because they have been socialized to do so. However, it hurts my heart that meaningful conversations about race and representation are being derailed in our own forum (i.e. Vogue Italia post).
Here is a women was prevented from learning because she had the nerve to want to get an education while looking exactly as God made her. For all the commenters on the Vogue Italia who said that the spread wasn’t racist, this is a glaring example (albeit in another continent, but the same racial dynamics are at work here) of a white/non-black persons inability to separate a negative representation of a group of individuals (black people) to the individual herself (the women). She was considered by the director to be unfit to enter the classroom because she look too much like a coarse-haired dark-skinned African savage, all of which she is not. She is just as smart, capable, and deserving as any student, but the director did not see that. All he/she saw was her blackness, and it evoked some colonial-era prejudices within him/her.
Do you get now, apologists? Do you understand now? Do you see how negative representations of black people can affect individuals on an institutional level? Are you satisfied with this example or is it not enough to convince you of the consequences of these representations?
Sorry guys, had to sh*t off my chest. That post had my blood pressure through the roof.
I think the Vogue Italia piece was different. Fashion is perceptive, so that post had many comments that perceived the fashion in the editorial to be either harmless or harmful.
Being banned from a school based on wearing your hair texture is different. She was wearing a braidout or twistout which looked lovely, there were no skittles or candy bars in her hair (which in my opinion is weird and not appropriate for anything other than Halloween regardless of race, sorry that’s how I feel about that). So why would anyone make comments like the ones that you think you will see. On top of that, the BGLH community has given its support to issues like this regardless of if it’s in the US, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Canada, France, Japan, etc. We don’t give a side eye to women that wear natural hair, we praise it.
Black people are discriminated against in this world, I agree with that. I travel a lot for work and have been all over this globe, and I know a lot of people that think they know how a black woman should act or look. But it has nothing to do with skittles, instead they think I should be shaking my booty, I’m easy, or should be dressing like I belong in a rap video, the same rap videos that black people make and are distributed around the world. Vogue Italia will never do as much damage as those rap videos. And I would also like to add that everyone was raving about Vogue Italia for their all black issue which was beautiful and tasteful.
And like I said before fashion is perceptive. The fashion industry has stolen lots of trends and cultures and made them cool – goth, tattoos, Harajuku, gang, rocker and rockabilly, hip-hop, grunge. So no, I did not find Vogue Italia fashion styles mocking. If my child’s Principal called me and told me her natural hair had to be straight, I’d be furious and I would sue. But if my child’s Principal called me and told me her hair had candy bars in them, I would make my child take them out. The 2 stories are very different. And until Vogue Italia decides to re-create fashion from 1800s Southern Plantation slave attire, I will have no problem with what they have models wear.
(Note: I am specifically talking about this article and the most recent Vogue Italia article, Haute Mess. Not the slave earrings – I thought that was not appropriate.)
THANK YOU@eme:
I couldnt even respond because the responses of the posters were so idiotic.Black people obviously do not know when they are being insulted,STILL!I have seen spreads on harajuku girls,goths,etc…those spreads were full of admiration, an homage-the vogue spread was MOCKERY AND DISDAIN! Look at the models facial expressions and body language! Yet some people were laughing and saying it wasnt racist because among other reasons they used mostly white models- You bet they did; to confuse the stupid! but the intent was still loud and clear. The big question is what gives vogue and other racists(such as in article on Brazil)the IDEA that they have THE RIGHT!!!! to mock Black people,to tell Black people how they should look, behave, BE! WHO OR WHAT GAVE THEM THIS RIGHT! I dont see Black people running around in whiteface(vogue spread to me was form of Blackface)WHO!!!!and why are some blacks so quick to laugh at and dismiss themselves and thereby give these people the RIGHT! to dehumanize them.Only Black people get this treatment.
To me, black people who feel like that are the only ones affected by racism are narcissistic and live in a small world. Sorry but a lot of other races are discriminated upon. Was there not a Holocaust 60 years ago, and there are still people who make Holocaust jokes and find them funny. How many times do I hear people joking about Mexicans mowing lawns. Arabs are racially profiled too. Everyone likes to joke that all Asians look alike (I’ve lived in Japan and my best friend is Chinese, there is a distinct difference). So no, black people are not the only ones that experience racism. And they are not the only ones oppressed by racism.
I find it ironic that Vogue gets pummeled over this, but Tyra Banks sends models to South Africa where they take pictures sitting in the grass next to a lion in tribal attire ok (I thought that was offensive and cliche). And to your whiteface comment, hello!!! Dave Chappelle (and might I remind you that everyone found him funny and no one black was complaining). And please link to whatever fashion spread that showcases Goth fashion with the models running through a sunflower field, or Harajuku fashion that isn’t reminiscent of an anime scene. The fashion dictates the scenery, the poses, the facial expressions. Always has, always will.
At the end of the day, a magazine doesn’t have the power to keep me down (whether or not that is their intention). A school on the other, where I receive an education and hence, can uplift myself and others, is completely different.
Also, if you look like a fool, expect people to make fun of you like a fool.
And this is my last comment on this because it is detracting from the amazing things that the beautiful Ana is doing. I wish you luck and God’s blessing.
That’s the reality of the post racism role we live in. Damn if you do damn if you don’t.
Afro-Cubans, Afro-Brazilians and etc. are constantly dealing with racial discrimination and stigmas of the “lighter skinned” ignorance of their people. It remains constant in all cultures, whether it’s hair texture, or the color of the skin. Unfortunately, this is nothing new I’m not surprised. What I am surprised about is the fact this professor is still allowed to teach after this incident occurred. Whether they’re “investigating,” or trying to figure out how to ease their way of this situation. The professor should be suspended without pay, it was disrespectful. I believe they go easy on the people that commit these crimes. And yes I said crime.
Pure ignorance fed by racism, deception and a superiority complex. Denying someone an education because they wear their hair in the texture it naturally grows out of their scalp? Sounds like the person who did this to this young lady needs to be delivered from the same mentality that soooooo many other people the world over have concerning African textured hair. That mindset is that caucasians set the standard of beauty and the more closer you are to them in appearance and hair texture you are right and accepted and the further you are is color, appearance and hair texture you are wrong or against them. THis mentality is false, it is a lie. It is wrong. And not true. There is no scale for beauty. There is no right and wrong when it comes to hair texture and styles. Spending all that money and messing your natural hair texture up just to have straight hair is wrong . Thinking, that straight hair is better than kinky, curly, coils hair is wrong, especially when your hair doesn’t grow out of your head straight. Now some of our sisters in the diaspora(all over the world ) do have naturally straight hair (Eritrea, Australia, etc) and it is absolutely beautiful. But do not covet it. We must take care of what we were blessed with, love it, nurture it, care for it and grow it! We must learn our hair and continue creating all of the marvelous combinations we are known for. I support and encourage all of the women and girls in Brazill who are developing a positive self image and embracing their natural hair texture! Awesome.
I like to wear my hair in a natural fro. I was wearing a wash and go style and one of the black employees asked me why I didn’t do my hair anymore.
I’ve had loads of comments from colleagues asking why I don’t wear my hair long and straight. I spend a lot of time and attention on my hair so it’s a shame people see it as unproffesional and unkempt. We should be allowed to wear our hair in our natural states without causing controversy!!
I feel sorry for the Ana’s pain but at the same time I am proud of her: Well done girl!!! You are not only beautiful, you are pure and brave as well. Your assertive action has gotten you the respect of many and it wipes away all the unnecessary pain that man caused you.
That ‘educator’ is a retard, he got stuck in the fifties of last century, or should I say in the fifties of the nineteenth century???!!!
I also find it a shame that some people evaluate, appreciate, judge en reject others on the basis of skin color. That is retarded too. Color goes but skin deep.
I am glad I was born colorblind and furthermore raised colorblind by my beloved parents. I am happy that I was married for nearly 25 years to a lovely woman of ‘milk-choclate’ complexion (how did I say that?!)and to have four lovely daughters with her. My daughters are colorblind, too, ha ha, and I am proud of them!!!
Keep up the good work,dear Ana Carolina,you will go far and fly high, God willing!!!
What do u by colorblind? If u notice the complexion of your wife and daughter, doesn’t that mean that you are not colorblind?
Meant to say “what do u mean by colorblind”
I think he is saying that he does not base his opinions soley upon someone’s race or complexion, but instead he bases his opinions on a person’s actions or personality. I would consider myself colorblind too. It is a common expression.
You’re being facetious
Believe it or not, but I have actually never heard of the word used outside of a medical context, but thank you for explaining Siri.
Really?! it’s a fancy word for smart*ss so how is it a medical term?
She meant she did not know of “colorblind” outside of a medical term. Please remember that this site attracts readers from all over the world.
Relax, sweetheart. I meant the word colorblindness. Read the entire before you start typing.
I don’t mean you Aisha :).
Read the entire? perhaps you should follow your own advice?
Since Eme’s original question was “What do you mean by ‘colorblind'”, and she thanked Siri for the explanation, it appears that “colorblind”, rather than “facetious” is the word she associated with a medical condition.
I’m not throwing you shade, EG; human nature being what it is, it’s entirely possible, probable even, that there are some who know full well what Henk Piek meant and still echo Eme’s question from the same point of view you thought she had, in which case, I agree with you.
Eme, you’re correct. In addition to Siri’s explanation about choosing to see the whole person rather than just focusing on their skin color and judging them by it, “colorblind” is an actual problem which expresses itself as a person being unable to see/perceive/recognize certain colors or color combinations. Some people are red-green colorblind, unable to see those colors. Other people are blue-yellow colorblind. Some people, I’m told, don’t see any colors at all, but I don’t actually know anyone who is colorblind to that extent, and I don’t know how common it is.
Speaking generally, I appreciate people like Henk Piek who are “colorblind” in their approach to people not of their ethnicity, culture, nationality, etc. and who choose to accept others for who they are rather than how they look. Speaking personally, however, I dislike the use of that particular word applied to the mindset and resulting interactions thus described. To me, it means that you choose to not see a part of someone, or to minimize it, or see past it, in order to be able to accept that person; and while the intent is noble, it seems to me that in the end, you’re still not accepting ALL of the person.
Me, I choose to see the whole person, as much as I’m allowed to see, because the skin they’re in is as much a part of the total package as the heart, mind, soul, and ability to will and to power that reside within that skin. So I’m NOT colorblind. I SEE you. All of you. And you are as fearfully and wonderfully beautiful in your color as you are in your inmost parts, to the glory of God and the joy of all who wholly accept you.
thanks for the explanation…:-)
So glad you finally understand
She’s a beautiful young lady and I glad she was not deterred or intimidated by her ignorant professor!
WOW!! so this goes to show that this BS happens everywhere, I am so tired of hearing that the US is the only place that is racist. WOW!! beautiful Brazil, a place of cultral has racism…This type of stuff happen everywhere!!
I am glad this is getting some type of attention, I pray justice will prevail for her and the people that are affected by this.
This is horrible and not new or unique to Brasil. I hope this young woman finds justice. My comment is also for this blog http://www.blackwomenofbrazil.com you just introduced us to. I am HOOKED! I can’t stop reading the articles. I absolutely love the perspective from Whitneys death, to the Oscars, to hair and role models. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing an awesome blog from the diaspora.
I agree! This is a great blog – one that I will keep following up with 🙂
Because I live in Miami, a multicultural hub where many cultures converge in the US it is clear that there is insufficient comprehension of black culture and a lot of scare tactics prevail. I get the sense this director knows nothing of “black power”, “black history” and “black culture” and is simply parroting stereotypes received from others. This happens a great deal, even in Miami, there was an elementary school which had “No dreadlocks” on its school policy and the principle was reading the list when he saw me in the audience wearing my well kept locs. He read the list but skipped the dread locs…but the message was loud and clear.
Unfortunately locs are one of those things. I find that loose natural hair gets a better rap than locs. I’ve never received a negative comment about my natural hair from anyone other than my family (ironically), they have been pretty positive. Most people that ask me about my hair are more so confused and want to know how I care for it, but everyone knows how to “care” for locs. They think people with locs don’t wash their hair, they think it’s unkempt, they think palm rolling is the only technique. It’s unfortunate. I live near Philadelphia and there are a few amusement parks in the area. All of them also have the policy that employees cannot wear locs.
Brazil is always trying to claim it’s not a racist country. Big lie.
That name Nuhu Ayuba is Nigerian, I have to find out what happened to him.
Here it is! Apparently his professor gave him lower grades because he is dark skinned, called him a MONKEY and told him to go back to Africa and LIGHTEN HIS SKIN!
That is beyond sick.
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u=http://www.overmundo.com.br/overblog/nuhu-ayuba-o-etnocentrismo-no-seculo-xxi&ei=9MRhT7PSMsKCgAeTpN2fAg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEcQ7gEwCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnuhu%2Bayuba%2Bmaranhao%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26tbo%3Dd
Shocking in such a “non-racial” country, huh!!
That’s why I love the US. Black Americans do not pretend that this is a color blind country. Quite the opposite. By highlighting racism, you get rid of it. Pretending that racism doesn’t exist, only allows it to flourish undercover.
I recently watched Henry Louis Gates documentary called “Black in Latin America: Brazil, a racial paradise? where the Dr. Gates explored the idea of Brazil being a racist free society…which is absolute bull! They want you to believe that abt Brazil but in actuality many black brazilians expressed feeling quite the opposite. Black brazilians say they are discriminated on a daily basis but it is covered up. This story is just another example of the racism that black brazilians go through regularly. Meanwhile if you go to Brazil you can experience this firsthand where there are minimal examples of black prominent Brazilians on magazines and as celebrity figures.
I watched the same program and the whole series in Cuba and Mexico.
I watched the same program, which happened to be my inspiration to officially stop straightening my hair and using chemicals.
I always dreamed of living in either Cuba or Brazil, where the black experience was celebrated then years ago (at least 10) I was put on to the extreme racism in Brazil and was shocked. For all it’s beauty, Brazil is pretty backwards when it comes to race relations, and it reminds me of what goes on in America. When you have a nation that flourished off of racism and slavery, the powers that be will do all it takes to keep you mentally and financially behind those who profited off of you. It saddens me, and all I can hope is that we as Black people across the world can overcome this ignorance.
I too watched those documentaries by Dr. Gates. Very interesting and race relation issues such as these are not only found in Brazil, Cuba or the DR.
I watched that show and I was born in Brasil. I think that Dr. Gates was only trying to show how different “black” is in Brasil. I think I’m black, but here I am considered bi-racial. Most people think I’m Mexican. Blacks in Brasil have a very hard time getting into universities as it is and this just makes having to go through the very very long process of the lottery- yes they use a lottery in Brasil to get into college- such a challenge that you almost just give up. She was accepted!!!! Praise God for that. Brasil only has one “black” university. Struggle is an everyday thing in the western hemisphere. Be encouraged here in the US. Your slavery was shorter and less brutal than anything that I have read in comparison to that of Brasil. This has kept Brasil in the throws of a civil rights movement far longer than it was for blacks here. Please consider yourselves blessed to live here.
muchacha, i feel your pain. i have been aware of the struggles in brasil since i was a young girl. as a precocious student ‘looking for color everywhere’ i read much fiction and non fiction in translation from your country. masters and the slaves should be required reading in your country and everywhere africans have been enslaved. everywhere! we did not create this problem with blackness, our former masters did this out of the basest of human vices: greed,lust,envy, pride,sloth,vanity and malice. the mixed race brasilians and all of us in the americas need to understand that we were forced labor, raped, beaten, tortured, and if we survived sold just like the blackest among us, sold in many cases by our own fathers. know this: the english, the french, the belgians, the germans — all of them –have been just as cruel as the portuguese. and spare me the spaniard, weh? part of the reason (perhaps) that this struggle is so extended in brasil may be the nazi like efficiency with which the powerful elites control the masses of people – the violence, the grinding poverty, the class delusions, the color phobias. a lottery. how foolish. but that is used here in the us, also, for access in the public schools k-12! avoid the comparisons. racism is a crime against humanity wherever it occurs and in whatever concentration.
I’m moved and very proud she and others had the courage to step forward and not swallow this barbarism, it takes guts. She fights for all of us who experience the shame and fury of ANY discrimination. I teared up when I read her sister cried. I can imagine her rage and helplessness at Ana Carolina being demeaned by some mental peon with quite possibly the Black grandmother, aunt, brother in the family tree but light enough to designate themselves White. Thank you for this story, very informative site, I’ll be following her progress.
Obviously the school is in the wrong but the term “Black power hairstyle” has me thinking, if only more of us knew the powerful message in proudly rocking our crown.
Exactly! Obviously, the term, “Black Power” intimidates people. What a powerful message this young girl was sending, and she wasn’t even trying. She was just being herself!
It seems to me that the message from this incident is that if a natural hair style is seen as denoting ‘Black Power’ then a straightened hair style denotes the opposite, that is a ‘black lack of power’ or ‘white power over blacks’.
The more I read stories like this, the more I realise that hair is really powerful people! How come it’s taken us black women so long to understand what’s at stake here?
When we as a people wholesale reject our natural physical characteristics in the form of our hair, it’s a way of waving the white flag and surrendering to white supremacy within our own bodies, making the perm or the weave the equivalent of planting the ‘white is right flag’ on top of our heads.
To racists in Brazil and elsewhere, your straightened hair is seen as one of the signs that your spirit is broken enough to not rock the boat or constitute a real threat to white power structures or their agenda.
They trust that in that state you can’t defy their racist bigotry or the constant persecution and suppression that blacks live under in that society and to a certain extent they are right.
If a black or brown brazilian woman is too terrified to leave the house without her hair being perfectly straight for fear of being seen as ‘unacceptably ugly’, from where will she get the courage to challenge the whole system of racism ranged against her?
That’s why I’m so glad that a huge sea change is coming over black women all over the world not just in the U.S.
You hit the nail on the head!!
My two cents: Power and blessings to these students for standing up for the basic rights!
For over 5 decades Brazil has marketed to the international community a false message of “color-blindness” and unity among all Brazilians regardless of background. This was and remains a fairy tale. The irony: America is actually on its way to being quite similar with economic disparities increasing for all (wealth and thus power held by an elite few), particularly when comparing net worth btw minorities and whites, and the all to often utterances of a post-racial society which allows racial injustices reported to be dismissed as the complainant being too sensitive, manipulative (pulling the “race-card” for convience), or false. SMH.
this is why i believe so much in being natural.
and this is also why i never buy into that “i am not my hair” bs.
Thank you ladies so much for this comment thread. I am someone who usually sees it as “just hair” not for a moment considering the greater implications of how “they” see it.
It is our crown and glory, isn’t it?
“equivalent of planting the ‘white is right flag’ on top of our heads”–yes yes yes indeed.
You could switch out ‘white is right flag’ with ‘black is wrong flag’ or ‘anything but black is right flag’ and it would apply even more widely. I know some black women though who rail against white oppression on the daily, yet they still feel shame about their natural hair. I’m like, okay I realize that you are against the “white is right” thing, but have you fully shed the “black is wrong” mentality? these women will quickly pull the “well other minorities have straight hair (Asian, Latino, Native American), so I’m not trying to be white”, but still, even you aren’t trying to be white, if you are hiding your natural hair out of shame then you are still trying to be something NOT distinctly and markedly black.
oops, I meant *but still, even IF you aren’t trying to be white…*
@Saf and Anastasia – just brava, ’tis all!
You are brilliant! I wish more people understood this and rejected the self-hatred that we are all force fed.
@saf…preach
Wow. This is absolutely ridiculous. What is wrong with people?
May we repost a portion of this on our site, link it you here and tell our readers to finish reading it here?