One of the most fascinating things about Manaus when I first arrived in 1980 and still true today, is the diversity of the people who make up the city. There are native Indians, a polyglot of descendants of various European nationalities, blacks, the majority descended from the former slaves on Brazil's east coast, and Asians, predominately Japanese. Not only are they all present and working side by side, but they have intermarried and created some of the most beautiful people in the world.
Amazonas, is one of the few places in the world where the majority of the people judge you on who you are, not what you are. I find it fascinating that they do not consider anyone white or black, but rather have hundreds of words to described the varying shades of color.
I am well freckled and when I asked what color am I, they told me I was "rust" because that was the shade my reddish freckles gave me.
Division in Northern Brazil is not based on color or race, but sadly on economic status. A poor man is a poor man and a rich man is a rich man, regardless of the color of their skin.
With better education and more high schools, as well as more universities and colleges available to the many, rather than the elite, the division between poor and rich is being attacked. Currently in Brazil the middle class is on the rise and hopefully if the government's economic reforms hold true, the middle class should grow even more.
Our differences are what unite us and the sharing brings out the beauty in all of us.
More in the next edition.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment