Racism against foreigners in Brazil

[Helpmann]

You do not even deserve a respost.

You can't argue with the facts.

-Helpmann

[Golfinho]

Everyone has his opinion. NOTE! I'm as white as can be and I felt lot of discrimination in USA. I avoid to go there as much as possible. Unfortunately its unavoidable.

And that's that.

The most racist country is the land formerly known as Palestine. An avoidable place best avoided.

[Perkele]

Slavery was abolished 145 years ago (before Brazil was even a republic).

Had?? The Klan still exists in the US and HAS over 100 chapters. BTW, you have skinheads and Neo-Nazis throughout Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo. Shit, where do you think Josef Mengele was living???

Black American men have had the right to vote since the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870. Christ, Brazil ratified its constitution in 1988, 200 years before the United States!!


BTW, since 1889, every Brazilian president has been white, which is unbelievable given that over half of Brazil's population is "brown" and black.

-Helpmann

You do not even deserve a respost.

[Helpmann]

Not a long time ago, the US had slavery.

Slavery was abolished 145 years ago (before Brazil was even a republic).

It had the klu klax klan.

Had?? The Klan still exists in the US and HAS over 100 chapters. BTW, you have skinheads and Neo-Nazis throughout Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo. Shit, where do you think Josef Mengele was living???

The US did not allow its own people of color to vote until the 60's.

Black American men have had the right to vote since the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870. Christ, Brazil ratified its constitution in 1988, 200 years before the United States!!


BTW, since 1889, every Brazilian president has been white, which is unbelievable given that over half of Brazil's population is "brown" and black.

-Helpmann

[Sperto]

A new thread, nice. Racism against foreigners in Brazil...

Racism exist in Brazil, without any doubt. Racism against people with darker skin colour, indians and nordestinos. But racism against foreigners I have never encountered at any time in 20 years (except in some areas the locals might not like a certain nationality, e g italians might not be popular in Fortaleza).

However brazilians might have a lot of ideas regarding gringos. Ideas put in their head by media or rumours. Ideas like:
* Gringos fool brazilian women to go to Europe and makes them work as prostitutes.
* Gringos prefers mulattas.
* Gringos only come to Brazil for sex-tourism.

[Prosal]

I visited Brazil over 30 times and never witnessed discrimination.

Get real.

Many many times in Brasil, in posh clubs, I have witnessed the bouncers, themselves people of color, exclude people trying to get in on the basis of race.

[Tiradentes]

I Last time I looked, the US had a black president, not many western countries can say that, can't see a black president being elected in what you refer to as "one of the most rascist countries in the world".

Not a long time ago, the US had slavery.It had the klu klax klan. The US did not allow its own people of color to vote until the 60's. If you treat your own citizens like this, then foreigners should not expect much welcoming.

Electing a black president (half black may I add) two years ago produced the tea party, which is as bigoted as the extreme right currently found in many European nations. The tea party is expected to make large inroads in next week midterm elections.

Brazil on the other hand, and although highly corruptable, had none of that during its history. The candidates running for president of Brazil are two middle of the road centrists. One is center right, the other is center left. The extremists (left or right) have no place in Brazilian politics. Lula was first feared that he will turn his country into a communist place, but he did not. He ran it from the center.

Brazil is also one of the very few countries that never had a civil war.

I visited Brazil over 30 times and never witnessed discrimination.

[Perkele]

Bubba Boy, very well said. I have not travelled as extensively as you; I have only been to 58 countries in my life and I completely agree with your statement regarding race and justice system.



Yes, I am a US citizen and proud of it :-) BTW, you don't need get personal to get your point across. I am sorry that you were discriminated in the USA. Don't write off the entire country because of your interaction with border security or few bad apples. I do obey the laws where I go and I plan to be in Brazil soon. In spite of the fact that it is a corrupt nation, I am sure I will meet some wonderful people and plan on making great memories.

Trust me, I didn't write off entire country because of border security or some few individuals. Its the great majority that are rather uneducated. And my opinion is not from one place only since during the year I spent there I traveled from coast to coast. Actually the most easy going people you find in New Mexico. Rest, well....

If I were a US citizen.... never mind.

[Vitrea]

I am not a US citizen and have been to 80 countries out of the roughly 200 that exist. The USA is one of the least racist countries I have been to. Sure there are racist people in every country, but I would think that percentage in the US is very small, certainly less than 10%. Sure it is a pain in the ass to go through their immigration point of entry but that is not because they are racist, something about people flying planes into buildings has a tendency to increase a countries security. Pain in the ass, yes! but understandable considering what has happened. Last time I looked, the US had a black president, not many western countries can say that, can't see a black president being elected in what you refer to as "one of the most rascist countries in the world".

Getting back on track. Out of the 80 countries that I have visited, maybe 20 have an efficient corrupt free legal system. Those 20 countries are generally the most developed countries. The basis for all successful countries with a high standard of living is to have a just legal system. Brazil does not have a just legal system, if it did, the economy would just grow and grow. Now before someones says the Brazilian economy is growing strongly, well yes it is. However it has had booming economies before, big booms in fact. Sadly, because it does not reform its legal system the boom turns to a bust as most of the wealth generated is stolen by the elite upper class and the underclass's suffer. Will this boom last? Who knows, but the reforms the government has been putting in place are painfully slow and serious reforms are still needed if Brazil wishes to continue its developement.

Bubba Boy, very well said. I have not travelled as extensively as you; I have only been to 58 countries in my life and I completely agree with your statement regarding race and justice system.

You must be citizen of the USA. Actually USA is one of the most racist countries I have ever been. The police doesn't treat foreigners very well at all. They might not be corrupt, but I do not believe a word you are writing. Going to USA is such a pain in the ass and if it can be avoided, I highly recommend not to go.
I'm quite sure that brazilian air marshall in a similar situation would be in trouble.
What bothers me is that US officials do everything they can to extract their citizens from foreign countries where they have committed crimes. Like those airline pilots who collided that GOL jet where more than 150 people died. They never showed up in a trial and it was plainly clear that the american pilots were wrong.
So please stop being so pompous and start obeying the laws of the countries where you go. You americans are no better than everybody else, you just think you are.

Yes, I am a US citizen and proud of it :-) BTW, you don't need get personal to get your point across. I am sorry that you were discriminated in the USA. Don't write off the entire country because of your interaction with border security or few bad apples. I do obey the laws where I go and I plan to be in Brazil soon. In spite of the fact that it is a corrupt nation, I am sure I will meet some wonderful people and plan on making great memories.

[Brazil Specialist]

Instead of a taxi you can take the frescão, Real Bus, just outside the rodoviária.

The regular city bus might not be safe that late in the evening, considering you are carrying luggage.

The regular city bus is not safe at any time

I personally know people who were robbed at knife point in a bus in Avenida Copacabana at 2 pm.

If you have valuables, don't penny pinch to save R$ 20 and to lose R$ 5000.

Especially if you look like a gringo.

Frescão is a little safer. But the way from the stop to your apartment is not.

I don't try to save money in the wrong places.

[Perkele]

I am not a US citizen and have been to 80 countries out of the roughly 200 that exist. The USA is one of the least racist countries I have been to.

Everyone has his opinion. NOTE! I'm as white as can be and I felt lot of discrimination in USA. I avoid to go there as much as possible. Unfortunately its unavoidable.

And that's that.

[Prosal]

You must be citizen of the USA. Actually USA is one of the most racist countries I have ever been.

I'd rate Thailand n°1. Thais are institutionally taught to be xenophobic (compare that to the efforts and the laws in West to fight xenophobia and discriminations) and that since centuries.

Thais have never liked foreigners, since centuries and wherever the "aliens" came from. They have a long-standing resentment to farangs living among them. Xenophobia, smugness, malevolence and arrogance have always been major elements of their character. I could add that they are also violent, vindictive, confrontational and spiteful, but there's nothing fundamentally new in that. Anyone with half a brain who has frequented in Thailand other people than hoes and hotel clerks knows that.

That said, racial prejudice does exist a lot in Brasil. And in many ways, this prejudice is even more pervasive than in US or Europe. The most insidious thing about brasilian racial prejudice is that most brasilians tend to believe (and even often totally succeed in convincing themselves) the nationalist propaganda that Brasil does not really have a race problem.

Propaganda which is relayed by all the daydreamers "Brasil lovers" gringos who live in denial of the realities .....

[Bimbo Boy]

... In fact an old Brazilian friend/colleagues of mine once said "give me Nigeria any day. you don't have to kiss their ass to make them feel good about taking the bribe".

Nothing makes your skin crawl more than a arrogant, self righteous, self justifying official/thief.

Interesting comment.

Thanks

[Bubba Boy]

You must be citizen of the USA. Actually USA is one of the most racist countries I have ever been. The police doesn't treat foreigners very well at all. They might not be corrupt, but I do not believe a word you are writing. Going to USA is such a pain in the ass and if it can be avoided, I highly recommend not to go.

I am not a US citizen and have been to 80 countries out of the roughly 200 that exist. The USA is one of the least racist countries I have been to. Sure there are racist people in every country, but I would think that percentage in the US is very small, certainly less than 10%. Sure it is a pain in the ass to go through their immigration point of entry but that is not because they are racist, something about people flying planes into buildings has a tendency to increase a countries security. Pain in the ass, yes! but understandable considering what has happened. Last time I looked, the US had a black president, not many western countries can say that, can't see a black president being elected in what you refer to as "one of the most rascist countries in the world".

Getting back on track. Out of the 80 countries that I have visited, maybe 20 have an efficient corrupt free legal system. Those 20 countries are generally the most developed countries. The basis for all successful countries with a high standard of living is to have a just legal system. Brazil does not have a just legal system, if it did, the economy would just grow and grow. Now before someones says the Brazilian economy is growing strongly, well yes it is. However it has had booming economies before, big booms in fact. Sadly, because it does not reform its legal system the boom turns to a bust as most of the wealth generated is stolen by the elite upper class and the underclass's suffer. Will this boom last? Who knows, but the reforms the government has been putting in place are painfully slow and serious reforms are still needed if Brazil wishes to continue its developement.

[Fred100]

Do you infer that the USA legal system is fair? What would be the chances of a simple Brazilian policeman against an American citizen with connections in an USA court ? My guess is about the same chances as the American marshals in Brazil. Not any better.

This kind of bias and prejudice makes me mad.

"Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye?", Matthew 7:1-29

I am not American, I'm a Scot. Having worked all over the world for the last 38 years. I have been living in Brazil for the past nine years. I mainly deal with our Latin American clients these days. The bias in my opinion is not solely based on my experience with dealing with local officials throughout Brazil. These are also the opinions/frustrations of my Brazilian/Latin American colleagues. Many have been in the same business as myself for many years and have worked in many countries. So they have a comparison and know the difference. In fact an old Brazilian friend/colleagues of mine once said "give me Nigeria any day. you don't have to kiss their ass to make them feel good about taking the bribe".

Nothing makes your skin crawl more than a arrogant, self righteous, self justifying official/thief.