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1 | “Me, Ex-Quota Girl, ‘Daring Bum’”: A Poor Black Brazilian Woman’s Account of How She Succeeded Against All Odds | “Izaho, Nisitraka Ny Rafitra Fetran'isa isam-poko Fahiny” : Fijoroana Vavolombelon'ilay Breziliana Tovovavy Mahantra, Mainty Ary Feno Fahasahiana |
2 | Cover by Alexsandro de Brito Almeida for the report about the first year of the Afroatitude program. | Fonom-bokin'ny tatitra mikasika ny taona voalohany tamin'ny fandaharanasa Afroatiude, sary nataon'i Alexsandro de Brito Almeida. |
3 | Reproduced with permission. | Nahazoana alàlana ny fampiasàna azy. |
4 | It could be said that Gabriela Moura, at the age of 27, has overcome a great deal in her life. | Eo amin'ny faha-27 taonany, Gabriela Moura dia tovovavy Breziliana efa afaka miteny sahady fa nahatafita ny fiainany. |
5 | Originally from the suburbs and a pupil at poor state schools in the north of Parana state in Brazil, she nursed a desire, which she has called ‘extremely daring', to get into the public relations course at Londrina State University. | Avy any amin'ny faritra ambanivohitra ary nianatra tamin'ny sekolim-bahoaka tany avaratr'i Parana, nozohiany hatrany ny nofinofiny nomeny anarana hoe “fahasahiana iray tena goavana” : hiditra any amin'ny Sekoly Ambony Momba ny Fifandraisan'ny Samy Olona ao amin'ny Anjerimanontolon'i Londrina. |
6 | This is no straightforward dream in a place like Brazil, where the children of seamstresses, maids and nannies, like herself, generally don't aspire to getting any further than middle school. | Tsy nofinofy mora tanterahana izany ao Brezila, firenena iray izay tsy fahazàrana ho an'ireo zanaky ny mpanjaitra, mpanampy an-trano na mpiambina zazakely, toa azy ny “manonofy ankoatry ny fahavitàna ny kilasy farany amin'ny ambaratonga faharoa. |
7 | “Me, Ex-Quota Girl, ‘Daring Bum'” is an intimate and moving post on Gabriela's blog in which she recounted the saga she went through to pass the university entrance exam at 17, and then how she subsequently had to face the prejudice and racism aimed at a student who had passed by means of the ‘racial quotas system' for further education. | |
8 | Moreover, Gabriela talks about her first contact with black culture, something which has changed her life forever, empowering her to also change the life of all other black youngsters she meets. | |
9 | The system of racial quotas in Brazil began in 2000 and was validated by the Supreme Federal Tribune in 2012. It aims to reserve places in state and private institutions for specific groups, such as blacks and native Indians, as a way of using affirmative action to reverse historical racism against those of certain ethnic backgrounds. | Ao anaty lahatsoratra mikasika azy manokana sy mampihetsi-po, tantarainy ny làlana nodiaviny mba hahazoana ny bakalaoreà, teo amin'ny faha-17 taonany, ary ny fomba niatrehany ireo hevitra raiki-tampisaka sy ny fanavakavahana tamin'ny nanekena azy ho mpianatra tao amin'ny anjerimanontolo tamin'ny alàlan'ilay rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko efa mipetraka any amin'ireo toeram-pianarana ambony. |
10 | Racial identity in Brazil is a complex subject closely linked to economic and social status, and racism a sore topic among Brazilians - please see our past coverage, linked below, for some more views on this. | Resahan'i Gabriela ihany koa ny fotoana voalohany nifampikasohany tamin'ny kolontsaina mainty, izay nanova mandrakizay ny fiainany - ary, manomboka eo, manova ny fiainan'ireo tanora mainty rehetra mifanojo amin'ny làlany. |
11 | Gabriela Moura, 7 March 2014. | Gabriela Moura, 7 martsa 2014. |
12 | Published with permission. | Famoahana nahazoana alàlana. |
13 | Read below extracts from Moura's blog about her experience, which has caught the eye of the Brazilian blogosphere. | Ity ny ampahany sasany amin'ny fijoroana ho vavolombelona nataon'ilay tovovavy bilaogera, izay misarika ny saina ho any amin'ny tontolon'ny bilaogy Breziliana. |
14 | It begins with her self-taught preparation for the university entrance exam: | Atomboka amin'ny fanomànany ny bakalaoreà tamin'ny fampianaran-tena. |
15 | When I was 16 years old I decided to change my study time at school, from the mornings to the evenings, so I could have time to work and pay for a pre-university entrance exam course. | Teo amin'ny faha-16, nanapa-kevitra ny hanova ny fandaharam-potoanako aho tany an-tsekoly, niala tamin'ny maraina nivadika ho amin'ny hariva, mba hananako fotoana misimisy kokoa hiasàna sy handoavako ny fianarana fanampiny hanomanana ny bakalaoreà. |
16 | And this was very daring indeed for someone like myself: wanting to get into Londrina State University. | Ary io dia efa fahasahiana lehibe sahady : hetaheta hiditra any amin'ny anjerimanontolon'i Londrina. |
17 | My mum wouldn't let me go ahead with these plans, saying it would be too hard for me to work and study at the same time, and there wouldn't be enough time for fun and teenage stuff. | Tsy navelan'ny reniko hanaraka io drafitro io aho, tamin'ny nilazàny fa mety ho sarotra ny hampivady ny asa sy ny fianarana, ary mety ho kely na tsy hisy intsony mihitsy ny fotoana malalaka ho ahy mba hialàko voly sy hanaovako ny fanaon'ny tanora. |
18 | So I started to try to study at home, just with my school books, as having access to the Internet would have been an unimaginable luxury. | Noho izany no nahatonga ahy nanomboka ny fianarana tao an-trano, niainga tamin'ny boky fampiasa any an-tsekoly fotsiny - ny aterineto mbola haitraitra tsy takatry ny saina tamin'izany. |
19 | Actually I didn't even have a computer or the slightest idea of when I would ever have one, for my mum was a seamstress after all. | Raha ny marina, tsy nanana akory aho na solosaina aza, ary tsy mbola nanan-kevitra akory hoe rahoviana no hanana iray amin'izany. Mpanjaitra miasa tena no asa nataon'i reniko. |
20 | Here she is talking about passing the university entrance exam and the prejudice within the university: | Momba ny fahombiazana tamin'ny bakalaoreà sy ny hevitra raiki-tampisaka tany amin'ny anjerimanontolo : |
21 | To summarise this part of the story: in February 2005 I went to a party promoted by the local radio station, which would announce the university exam results live, and when they gave out the little result sheet (sponsored by the biggest private school in the city, LOL), there was my name. And of course my mum cried when I gave her the news on the phone, with a mobile I borrowed from a friend. | Mba hanafohezana ity ampahany amin'ny tantara ity : ny febroary 2005, nandeha namonjy lanonana nokarakarain'ny fampielezampeo tao an-tanàna aho, izay nanambara mivantana ny valin'ny fanadinana bakalaoreà, ary rehefa nilaza ny valiny ry zareo (fangatahan'ilay kolejy tsy miankina lehibe indrindra ao an-tanàna, hehy), tao ny anarako, ary, mazava loatra, nitomany ny reniko rehefa naharay ny vaovao tamin'ny telefaona, tamin'ny finday nindramiko taminà namana iray. |
22 | It would all have been all right if there wasn't a big but: I was a quota girl. | Tokony ho tsara ny zavatra rehetra raha tsy nisy ny indro kelin'ny mpandrafitra : mpisitraka ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko aho. |
23 | And that was like carrying a flashing neon sign saying I didn't belong in that place. | Tahaka ireny hoe milanja sorabaventy misy jiro mipipika ireny aho teo ampitenenana hoe tsy isan'ny mponin'ity toerana ity. |
24 | Right from the beginning I heard nasty remarks from people who would openly say that I shouldn't be there, for the following reasons: - They had studied and paid for 2, 3 and 4 years of the most expensive university preparation courses in town so they would have more likelihood of getting in. | Hatrany am-boalohany, henoko ireo fanamarihana mandranitra nataon'ireo olona miteny tsy miafina fa tsy tokony ho ao aho, araka ny hevitr'izy ireny, noho ireto antony manaraka ireto : - Nianatra mafy izy ireo, nandany 2, 3, 4 taona nanarahana ireo fampianarana faran'izay lafo tao an-tanàna, mazava loatra fa mba hananany vintana misimisy kokoa. |
25 | - If I were to do badly my poor performance would hold the whole class up. | - ny vokatra ratsy mety ho avy amiko dia hampitarazoka ny kilasy manontolo. |
26 | - It's reverse racism against whites. | - fanavakavahana ny fotsy amin'ny endrika mitsimbadika io. |
27 | - It creates a generation of bums. | - Mahatonga fiforonana olona kamo. |
28 | She talked about the reality of the poor quota student: | Mikasika ny zavatra iainan'ny tovovavy mahantra, mpianatra ary misitraka ny fetran'isa isam-poko : |
29 | We would pretend we didn't hear the comments about reverse racism, to keep our sanity. | Momba ny resaka fanavakavahana amin'ny endrika mitsimbadika, natao toy ny tsy nahare na inona na inona, mba tsy hankarary ny saintsika. |
30 | And if they went on, a lesson describing the massacre of black people was enough to shut them up. | Ary raha misisika ry zareo, lesona iray manazava ny fanaovana vono moka ny vahoaka mainty dia tokony ho ampy. |
31 | And if it wasn't, then it showed that person wasn't worth bothering about anyway. | Raha tsy izany, dia satria manana toetra ratsy marina mihitsy ilay mihaino anao. |
32 | And another thing struck me: someone studies for four years at a private school and then blames the quota student for stealing their place at university? | Ary mahatonga fisalasalana iray hipongatra koa izany : olona iray nianatra nandritry ny efatra taona tany aminà sekoly tsy miankina ary miampanga mpianatra iray misitraka ny fetran'isa ara-poko ho nangalatra ny toerany ? |
33 | That doesn't seem reasonable. | Tsy manaraka ny lojika izany. |
34 | But money did seem to matter to them. | Saingy mbola nànana ny lanjany ny vola. |
35 | And then a new part in my soap opera. | Tonga kosa izao ny ampahany vaovao amin'ny tantarako. |
36 | On the subject of quota students being bums: this is perhaps the most bizarre accusation in this sea of racist rubbish. | Momba ilay lazaina ho “fihenjihenjen” ireo mpisitraka ny fetran'isa ara-poko : azo heverina ho ny fiampangàna hafahafa indrindra ao anatin'ity ranomasimben'ny kaondrana mpanavakavaka ity. |
37 | I had to try really hard to keep going on the course. | Tsy ny lafo indrindra akory ny taranjam-pampianarana ny Fifandraisana Samy Olona. |
38 | The public relations course is not the most expensive of all and the books cost around R$ 40 [£12] each, with the exception of the specialist books in economy and marketing, which are around R$ 100 [£30]. | Mitentina eo amin'ny 40 Reais eo ireo boky nilaina. Ny niavaka dia ireo boky momba ny toekarena sy ny haivarotra izay mihoatra ny 100 Reais. |
39 | But all my photocopying of the books was sending me seriously into the red. | Nefa ny habetsahan'ireo dika mitovy tsy maintsy natao dia nanomboka nikiky ny kaontiko tany amin'ny banky izay efa tsy nananako intsony. |
40 | And there were days when I had to choose between paying R$ 3 [£1] for the bus fare or buying something to eat. | Ary, tamin'ny andro sasany, tsy maintsy nisafidy aho na handoa tapakilam-pitaterana nisanda 3 reais na hampiasa ireo 3 reais ireo hividianana hanina. |
41 | In the academic world, however, the performance was the same. | Tao anatin'ny tontolon'ny anjerimanontolo, indraindray, mitovy lenta ny zava-bita. |
42 | I didn't feel I was any less able than my classmates from private schools. | Tsy nahatsaro loatra ho meloka aho nitaha tamin'ireo namako avy any amin'ny sekoly tsy miankina. |
43 | On the subject of Afroatitude, a project which brings together quota students from ten state universities: | Momba ny ‘Afro-attitude', tetikasa iray nampiray ireo mpianatra mpisitraka ny fetran'isa ara-poko avy aminà anjerimanontolom-panjakana niisa 10: |
44 | I first came into contact with black culture because of this project, and it was completely new to me. I used the money from the grant to buy the first computer of my life, and I studied about everything black people have been through [in Brazil], and that proved to be a catalyst for everything I am today. | Niaraka tamin'io tetikasa io dia nifampikasoka tamin'ny kolontsain'ny mainty aho, izay tsy fantatro tany aloha, nampiasaiko nividianako ny solosaina voalohany teo amin'ny fiainako ny volan'ny vatsim-pianarako, nianarako ny zavatra mamparefo ny vahoaka mainty ary izany dia ampy ho fanoitra nahatonga ahy amin'izay misy ahy ankehitriny. |
45 | Since we were supported by the Secretary for the Human Rights of the Federal Government, we had a chance to study the influence and needs of the black populations in the areas in which we lived, and we finally had an insight into how much work still needed to be done. | Notohanan'ny Sekretariàn'ny Zon'Olombelona ao amin'ny Governemanta Federaly, nanam-bintana nianatra ny momba ny dindo sy ny tsy fahampiana any amin'ireo vahoaka mainty tany amin'ny faritra niainanay izahay, ary dia vitanay nony farany ny nandrakitra ny asa rehetra sisa tavela hotanterahana. |
46 | I'm not sure if I can be objective on this point and explain exactly how massively important this project has been in my life. | Tsy haiko na ho vitako ny tsy hitanila amin'io teboka io ary hanazava tsara ny lanjan'io tetikasa io eo amin'ny fiainako. |
47 | Let's just say that because of it my intellect won in the lottery. | Ndeha hataontsika hoe nahazo tamin'ny lalaon'ny kisendrasendra ny faharanitan-tsaiko. |
48 | So much information to consider. | Fahalalana manana amby ampy. |
49 | And alongside this, I had to try and understand why some of my classmates insisted on saying that I and my quota friends were useless and dispensable, and that we shouldn't even be there. | Mifanindran-dàlana amin'izany, tiako notakarina ny antony nisisihan'ireo namana sasany tamin'ny hoe tsy nisy ilàna anay sy ireo namako hafa nisitraka ny fetran'isa isam-poko, ary ny antony tsy tokony haha-eo anay. |
50 | On the subject of the graduation: | Ny fanolorana diplaoma sy ny vokatra : |
51 | I graduated in 2008, without my childhood photo being shown on the party board, with my classmates, because I hadn't been able to pay for the party. | Vitako tamin'ny 2008 ny fianarako, saingy tsy nisy sariko navoaka amin'ny afisin'ilay lanoanana, toy ireo namako, satria tsy nahaloa vidim-pidirana tamin'ilay lanonana izahay. |
52 | I went as the guest of a friend. | Tonga tany aho noho ny fanasàna natolotry ny tovovavy namako iray. |
53 | I graduated hating graduation parties and feeling disconnected. | Tao anaty fankahalàna lanonana fanolorana diplaoma no nianatra aho, ary nahatsiaro ho nipatitaka. |
54 | But what I would like to say is that quotas do work. | Fa ny tsy maintsy ambara, dia eny, mandaitra ny fetran'isa isam-poko. |
55 | And they make other people feel uncomfortable too. | Ary manelingelina ihany koa. |
56 | They make people uncomfortable because they prove that the university entrance exam is not worth anything anymore, and because they ‘mix up' the atmosphere which ten years ago was homogeneous, that is, white. | Manelingelina izy ireny satria porofoiny fa tsy mitondra mankaiza intsony ny bakalaoreà, sy satria manova ny tontolo iray izay tokam-bolo, hatramin'ny 10 taona lasa izay. Fotsy. |
57 | The quotas prove that the ‘intellectual elite' is a term made up to depress and frighten those who don't have large quantities of money to spend on private schools which sell more appearance than knowledge. | Porofoin'ny fetran'isa isam-poko fa fomba filaza noforonina fotsiny ny hoe ‘sangany ara-pahalalàna' mba hanakiviana sy hampitahorana ireo tsy manam-bola be holaniana any amin'ireo sekoly izay toa mivarotra ny sariny fotsiny fa tsy ny fahaizana amam-pahalalàna. |
58 | Or to keep these people away from thinking about state schools, because, at the end of the day, why would you worry about the school your maid's daughter goes, if your own little one can study at the palace in the centre of town? | Na mba hampanalavirana ireny olona ireny amin'ny sekolim-bahoaka, satria, ny tiana hahatongavana, nahoana no hiasa saina amin'izay sekolin'ny zanakavavin'ny mpanampy an-trano raha toa ny anao afaka hianatra any anaty lapa soa ao afovoan-tanàna? |
59 | And after graduation: | Ary taorian'ny fanolorana ny diplaoma : |
60 | As a professional in public relations, I became a manager at the age of 24 in the company where I was employed. | Voaray hiasa ho mpisahana ny Fifandraisann'ny Samy Olona aho, 24 taona aho, mpitantana orinasa ao amin'izay iasàko. |
61 | That doesn't sound too shabby to me. | Tsy ratsy an. |
62 | I went back to studying in 2010, and this time I learned to read, write and speak colloquial and classical Arabic. | Niverina nanohy fianarana aho ny 2010, fa tamin'ity indray mandeha ity dia hianatra hamaky, hanoratra ary hiteny ny fiteny Arabo maoderina sy ny Arabo klasika. |
63 | I studied Arab cinema, literature, philosophy and history. | Nianatra momba ny sarimihetsika, ny literatiora, ny filaozofia ary ny tantara Arabo. |
64 | About the quotas system: | Momba ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko : |
65 | The racial quota system is very easy to understand and its goal is to bring black people into university. | Mora takarina ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko natao ho an'ireo mainty. |
66 | It doesn't replace the need to reconsider basic education but prevents the increase in racial disparity in this country. | Natao ho an'ny fidiran'ireo olona mainty any amin'ny anjerimanontolo izy io. |
67 | It is in fact an inclusive system and it's frivolous to call it a ‘governmental tip' because it's a government's obligation to ensure the wellbeing of its citizens, and the quota students are just using this right, which is to be able to study at university. | |
68 | What is wrong is to think that because these people didn't have R$ 1500 [£500] per month for 15 years to pay for their private school, they don't deserve to enter their universities by the front door. | |
69 | The quota system upsets some because it shows that money can buy things, and even people, but it can't buy humanity. Selective waste collection: Paper, Plastic, Metal, Glass, Human Hearts. | Tsy nisolo toerana ny filàna mamerina mandinika ny fanabezana fototra izy, saingy manakana ny tsy hitomboan'ny tsy fitoviana ara-poko eo amin'ny firenena. |
70 | Watercolor by Gabriela Moura, published with permission From our archives: Race and Racism in Brazil | Tsy zavatra hafa ankoatry ny rafitra miara-mirona ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko. |
71 | This Brazilian is Using Twitter to Take on Aggressive and Racist Housemaid Employers Brazil's Racism Problem Front and Center After Black Teen's Brutal Beating | Fa koa, maivana loatra raha ho antsoina hoe “famindram-pon'ny governemanta”, satria ny iray amin'ireo adidy aman'andraikitry ny governemanta dia ny mitady izay hahasambatra ny olom-pireneny, ary ireo mpisitraka ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko dia mampiasa zo iray, dia ny fahafahana mianatra. |
72 | Racism Greets Imported Cuban Doctors in Brazil Former Brazilian Model Turned Beggar Stirs Debate on Racism | Ny hadisoana dia ny fieritreretana hoe, satria ireny olona ireny tsy manana 1500 reais isam-bolana mandritry ny 15 taona, dia tsy mendrika ny hiditra amin'ny varavaramben'ny fianarana ambony. |
73 | Brazil: Census “Reveals” Majority of Population is Black or Mixed Race Brazil: Where Violence Has an Age and Skin Color | Manelingelina ilay rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko satria asehony fa afaka mividy zavatra hafa ny vola, olona mihitsy aza angamba, fa tsy mahavidy ny maha-olona. |
74 | Brazil: Children's Book Sparks Racism Debate Brazil: Afro-Brazilian Claims to Affirmative Action Denied | Aza dinganina ny fitantaràna manontolo ao amin'ny bilaogy Gabinóica etc. |
75 | | Ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko dia manokana toerana any amin'ireo toeram-pianarana an'ny fanjakana na tsy miankina ho an'ireo vondrom-poko voafaritra manokana, toy ny mainty sy ireo “autochtones” (olona teratany na efa niaina ela teo amin'ilay faritra), toy ny endrika hetsika fanamafisana mba hampitsimbadihana ny resaka fanavakavahana ara-tantara tao Brezila natao tamin'ireo vondrom-poko vitsivitsy. |
76 | Brazil: Bloggers on why there is still racism in the country Brazil: Do banks have metal or melanin detector doors? | Ao Brezila, nanomboka tamin'ny 2009 ny fanekena ny rafitra fetran'isa isam-poko any amin'ny anjerimanontolo, nanamafy io rafitra io ny Tribonaly Federaly Faratampony tamin'ny 2012. |
77 | Brazil: Can black people drive luxury cars? | sary hosodoko an'i Gabriela Moura, famoahana nahazoana alàlana. |