I was listening to an episode of Behind the Bastards about the slave labor used by Volkswagen in the 1970s and 1980s and this fact came up. Here’s the relevant Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Brazil

Excerpt:

Out of the 12 million Africans who were forcibly brought to the New World, approximately 5.5 million were brought to Brazil between 1540 and the 1860s.

  • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
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    2 days ago

    Having lived in both places, I can say Brazil clearly has racism, but it doesn’t come close to the near apartheid of the south of US. By a long shot.

    • jol@discuss.tchncs.de
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      21 hours ago

      Erm that absolutely does exist. Black Brazilians are killed by police at far higher rates, earn far less, and remain under-represented everywhere from universities to Congress. Calling that “not even close” just compares signage, not reality. The closest to the US south would the Nordeste. This area despite being made of several huge states, is more black, more poor, and mostly forgotten from public representation and support. Would you say the USA South is forgotten and poor?

      • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
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        19 hours ago

        Erm that absolutely does exist.

        Are you talking about racism existing? Because:

        I can say Brazil clearly has racism

        Moving on:

        Calling that “not even close” just compares signage, not reality.

        I would love to see how you arrived at that conclusion.

        Would you say the USA South is forgotten and poor?

        That has no relationship with racism at all. But to quench your curiosity, a resounding Yes.

        I can’t even begin to describe to you the absolute palpable, day to day, quality that racism takes form in the south of US. Apartheid-lite really is a better describer, as it encompasses more than racism. I was so taken aback by the state of racial affairs, I don’t think anything could have prepared me for it. There’s just so much that never make it to the media, because media reports the extraordinary, and what’s most shocking is exactly what they consider ordinary. The ordinary racism is just mind-boggling.