Great, another racial/economic disparity for Black folks. First South Africa, now Brazil? WTF, people.

That whole thing about race not mattering in Brazil is bogus. People don't talk about it but that doesn't mean it isn't having an effect. This is what happens with colour-blind ideology. People ignore race in the open or make racist remarks but in instutions it is having an effect of maintaining disparities. There is a difference between personal racism and institutionalized racism.

Brazil is FAR worse than the U.S. They abolished slavery last. They've managed to convince the world and the pigmented people there that all is well, when they can't even get job due to the lack of "good appearance," code for white, preferably blond with straight hair. In spite of having a black majority, they have fewer blacks in positions of power in government than Jim Crow U.S. and apartheid South Africa.

The "one drop" rule doesn't apply. There are lots of names for people of mixed ancestry, a huge chunk of the population. While Adriana Lima is of mixed ancestry, she can "pass" and would be considered to have "good appearance." Most of the Brazilians we're familiar with are 100% European. Gisele Bundchen is German. Alessandra Ambrosio is Italian.

Brazilians: http://gorgeousblackwomen.blog.....bel/brazil

Thanks Bronze trinty and Daria

A lot of people think that just becasue Brazil don't have Jim Crow there is no racism in Brazil.

A lot of German Nazi soliders escaped to Brazil.

The last wave of Brazilian models are blonde haired and blue eyed.

*gasp* there are black Brazilians?!?! No way!

I thought all Brazilians are white, blonde, and blue-eyed?!?!

*rolling my eyes*

daria of Gorgeous Black Women: "The “one drop” rule doesn’t apply."

Daria is right, how "blackness" is judged in Brazil is different than how "blackness" is judged in America. In America, "one drop" will do it…in Brazil, it's by the lightness of the skin. In other words, in Brazil, you can be (hypothetically) 100% "black" but if your skin is a lighter color, then you are more accepted in society. Does this make sense? It is not what you "are" but what you "look like."

Recently, I had to study the history of Brazil…I was shocked to find out how racist some aspects of their society were…and the manners by which people were judged. The racism there is nothing new…it has been going on for hundreds of years, but most of us are unaware of it.

However, as I did my research I did find that these biases were beginning to be challenged within Brazilian society…which is always good…