More than 130 years ago, abolition was decreed. The beginning of the end of a period that does not honor Brazil, one of the cruelest countries in the world in relation to slavery.
Even after so long, cases of racism continue daily in Brazilian cities, not to mention schedules: every day doing everything the same, borrowing from Chico Buarque the repetition of his daily life. Some make the headlines of the mainstream media, but the overwhelming majority remain in the shadows, awaiting a fair notoriety that they never achieve.
Blacks make up 56% of the population and women 52%, with black women, therefore, the largest segment of Brazilians (29% of the total). But how many black mayors are there? Only 209, that is, they are in 3.7% of the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities. And black federal deputies? There are 13, or 2.5% of the 513 that make up the Chamber.
This lack of representation in politics is no accident: racism is structural in Brazil. Civil society movements, artists and sportsmen have raised their fists in protest against the violence of the State, which, moreover, reacts disproportionately slowly in the face of the seriousness of the problem. The overwhelming majority of political leaders are white men who do not pay enough attention to the problem, becoming accomplices of society’s racism.
Violence in cities is another source of tension for the black population, especially the young, who are 2.5 times more likely to be killed in Brazil compared to young whites. Blacks are 77% of homicide victims in the country today. Jefferson Tenório, in his extraordinary book “O Avesso da Pele”, fills us with emotion when reporting the life of his black characters in a city. Jefferson, by the way, has just had his life threatened, in further evidence of real violence.
The private sector also has its challenges. Research by the Ethos Institute shows that only 0.5% of executive positions in companies are held by black women, while blacks receive 17% less than whites in the same position (2020 Research by PUC-RS).
In the face of all this evidence, it is necessary to take affirmative action to reverse this situation. Contrary to the historic compensation measures that are beginning to emerge around the world, LinkedIn has taken the decision to ban ads from organizations that offer jobs with affirmative action. As a reaction, Natura and Avon, among other companies, signed a Business Manifesto in Defense of Affirmative Action in which they reaffirm the need for selective processes that reverse inequalities in opportunities. After the reaction, the platform retreated and began to accept “publication of publications that express a preference for professionals from historically disadvantaged groups”.
And what role do cities play in fighting racism?
Public management must recognize the existence of the problem and then act in a transversal way, involving all departments in actions that promote racial equity. The mayor must be the leader that embodies the cause, without which, there is a risk of the issue being relegated to the end-of-year action reports, but without concrete changes.
As those responsible for the most direct services for the population, municipalities can support the anti-racist cause in management planning, systematizing data on local inequalities, integrating all secretariats with a view to promoting racial equity and promoting mechanisms that improve dialogue between public management. and civil society.
The mapping of racial inequalities in health and education, the creation of spaces for participation and organisms to promote racial equality and communication campaigns are also possible actions. Instituto Cidades Sustentáveis is developing a project for Brazilian cities to become a reference in racial equity, stimulating programs, policies and involving society.
If the speed of transformations of recent times remains, we will not reach anti-racist cities even in 100 years. The great way out for structuring problems lies in the field of public programs and policies that bring about scale transformations and create a new culture in the country. This is the most notable role of public affairs, from which we must demand the necessary ambition to advance in this very important issue.
Diversity in Brazil is not a problem, but its enormous wealth. The more politics and companies reflect society, incorporating everyone’s perspectives, the less risk we take, and the faster we can overcome the difficult moment we are going through.
