Study: Blacks account for 80% of violent youth deaths in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A study by the “Sou da Paz” Institute shows that between 2012 and 2019, the homicide mortality rate for young blacks was 6.5 times higher than the national rate.
In addition, a study by the Brazilian Public Safety Forum and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) shows that of the nearly 35,000 youth deaths between 2016 and 2020 in Brazil, 80% were black.
Although racism is not a new issue, it takes on another dimension when there are reports of routine situations, such as walking down the street, that go unnoticed to those whose skin color is not a target.
“I was in my school uniform and there was a lady in front of me. As I was walking, she would pick up her pace. Then I ran to get in front of her, so she wouldn’t be afraid and see that I wasn’t doing anything,” said student Pedro Henrique Cortez Mota.
Pedro’s mother, Egnalda Cortês, says that there is concern even when it comes to choosing where to spend Carnival:
“They rented a big house to celebrate their own Carnival, because they don’t feel safe to do it in noble areas. There is the risk of something going missing from someone and blaming them,” she said.
POLICE VIOLENCE
According to a survey by the Safety Observatories Network, every 4 hours a black person is killed by Brazilian police. Of the over 2,600 deaths in police actions in 2020, 82.7% of victims were black.
Rio de Janeiro leads the statistics: in the state capital alone, 90% of deaths were of blacks.
Last month, cultural producer Júlio de Sá denounced a police operation in Rio after being approached at the door of a fashion store. He went to the police and the case is being investigated as racism.
Psychologist Deborah Medeiros explains that black people, who are more vulnerable, often do not see the police as a protection agency. “They need indicators to quickly show that they are not a threat, to guarantee their own life,” she said.
INFORMATION AS EMPOWEREMENT
History teacher Jonathan Raymundo decided to write a new chapter in the fight against inequality and founded “Papo com Griot,” a project involving hundreds of young black men in Rio de Janeiro and offering information as a tool for empowerment toward a fairer society.
“The more I know about history beyond this colonial domain, the more I realize that I am beautiful, that I am an heir, that my ancestors are the creators of mathematics… And then, when you learn this, you realize that you are not a mere criminal, you are not just a slave, which is empty. This is very powerful,” Jonathan said.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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