World Cup News Item #1: Brazilian Senate Guts Then Passes Racial Equality Bill After Ten Years of Discussion.

Written by: Sadakne Baroudi:

World Cup has long been the Brazilian government’s cover for political maneuvering and this year is no different. If you think the games are exciting, try watching the show in the Senate. The Senate passed the Racial Equality Statute yesterday after removing affirmative action quotas for universities and political parties, ability for reparation claims, and employment incentives.

“It has a symbolic value that lights the way for the fight for equality and affirmative action,” said the Senator (Paulo Paim)

WHAT WE’VE WON:

1. State Governors are allowed to adopt Affirmative Action policies – if they want to. The term “racial inequality” was replaced with “ethnic inequality”. (Nothing new.)

2. Re-affirms the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion, emphasizing the right to practice traditional African religions. (Nothing new.)

3. Re-affirms the obligation of schools to teach African history and the history of the Black Population of Brazil in elementary and middle schools. The government must provide incentives for Afrocentric studies at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels. Mandates the inclusion of the question of race, to be self-declared in school census data collection. (<— Lookee here, we can check our own boxes by ourselves now on govt forms!!!)

4. Re-affirms commitments to health care, such as reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the Black community. (Nothing new… and Brazil has been making great strides in the area lately.)

5. QUILOMBOS! RECOGNIZES THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF POPULATIONS LIVING ON HISTORIC LANDS IN MAROON COMMUNITIES!!!! (Even though the Constitution pretty much already covers this.)

6. Housing: Guarantees the public power to implement policies to secure the right to decent housing for people in favelas/shantytowns. (Nothing new.)

7. And here’s the big win: THE STATE MUST CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE SAMBA AND CAPOEIRA!!!! (Not kidding. It’s in there.)

WHAT GOT CUT:

1. Establishment of racial quotas in education.
2. Fiscal incentives for businesses that have at least 20% Black employment.
3. Allowance for reparation claims related to historical racial discrimination.
4. Establishment of racial quotas of 10% for political parties.

IN A NUTSHELL:
1. Love that beautiful game thing you guys are so good at playing!
2. Love that singing and dancing thing you guys are so good at doing!
3. No, actually, you can’t expect an education, a job or political representation!
4. We said we love your culture. Now, fuck off!
5. How about that World Cup!