Private Story
TombamentoBNF
Tombamento is an unprecedented Story about the new generation of Afro descendants in Brazil who are claiming their place in society and questioning the racial problems and structure in Brazil. After having had access to Universities for the first time in the country, a natural mouvement was created all over Brazil, leaded by the Afro-feminist and LGBTQIs (mostly) youth who is requesting their existence and empowerment through a self remarked visual presence, through special kind of parties, gatherings and popular manifestation for their rights. Formed by the black “invisible” youth from suburbs, they accumulate all representative minorities: gender, sexual, economic and racial ones.
The recently statistics denounced and confirmed the genocide the Black youth suffers in the country. Everyday 13 women are murdered in the country, being the black women from 16-25 years the 70% of those touched; Everyday day, one person issue from LGBT is agressed to death. In 2017 the violence against LGBT persons raised 30% in Brazil.
Due to the raising violence against Afro-women and LGBT persons, and to be able to express their sexuality and blackness in safety, the youth from Tombamento gather in underground parties and organise afro-feminists manifestations; Inspired by AfroPunk gatherings in US, the Afro-Brazilian women and LGBT from Tombamento, claim for their space in Brazilian society, for their existence and feel the right to express their ideas freely.
Brazil lived a significant social inclusion in these last 15 years. Among the million ones who could get out of poverty, many young Brazilians, mostly coming from the suburbs and Afro-descendants, had finally the opportunity to enter Universities through the help of social grants and funds. The entrance in University brought them a rare possibility of changing social class. Children of sub-workers and professionals, this youth have seen a possibility of having a profession for the first time.
But the social grants and funds for low rent students are being cut by the right wing party now on Presidency. The Party in power now and its followers are openly and officially declaring a racist, misogynist and homophobic political position in the Presidency. The intention is to bring public schools into private and political funds into bank private loans.
I've been working in this unprecedented Story for 20 days, in Sao Paulo and Salvador, in two trips: one in August 2018, other last June 2019. Although this youth has their life impregnated by violence and discrimination, the Tombamento movement is very positive. While affirming the African roots, while questioning and affirming the importance of African culture in the country, the Tombamento youth is touching the very base of the Brazilian weak democracy. Also, it is very meaningful to see the Feminist and LGBT caring in their shoulders the racial fight in Brazil today. Although the Afro Brazilian descendants are the majority in Brazilian society, they still the less represented politically. Marielle Franco* murderer was a prove on how difficult it is to have this parcel of society represented on the government. But this is changing with the arrival of Tombamento: the Transwoman and DragQueen singer Pablo Vittar was chosen as the Next generation Leaders of Time Magazine and Djamilla Ribeiro, Afro-Brazilian feminist and philosopher is now publishing her 6th book in the country.
*Marielle Franco was deputy in Rio de Janeiro. Afro-Feminist, lesbian and from favela, she was murdered with 90 shots from the militia of Rio de Janeiro, commanded by an ancient assistant of Flavio Bolsonaro (the son of the actual President of the country).
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