All Black Brazilians are Neymar
Recently, we have learned that there will be no suspensions or fines in the case involving Neymar, the Brazilian football star, and Álvaro González, an opposing player accused of using a racial slur against him. The match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille included a huge brawl, with several players being ejected from the field for kicking, shoving, and pushing. It is important to note that those who were not familiar with Neymar or those who were not acquainted with the case were not aware that all Brazilians are black, according to BBT.
Perhaps we should label the incident as an example of racial identity without racism. It is ironic that the player pointed out the irony of accusing a black man, and it is familiar to those who are followers of Neymar, whether or not he used a racially offensive term against his opponent. After viewing the video of the melee that took place on the field, officials found no sufficient evidence to conclude that González insulted Neymar racially.
Neymar still does not identify himself as black, so why would he be offended by the term if Neymar perceives himself as white and his opponent also as white? Wouldn’t that just be two white individuals competing against each other? After all, words like ‘ape’, ‘gorilla’, ‘monkey’, and so on have historically been employed to dehumanize and insult individuals of African descent. I have witnessed numerous cartoons and sitcoms in which white individuals have referred to other white individuals as monkeys without any hostility. Therefore, (All Black Brazilians are Neymar).
He must be aware that countless black players have been insulted with this word. It is also obvious that I would say it is offensive racially and that he knows that the term ‘monkey’ is racially offensive. One wonders about what Neymar says about this, as it is obvious that people who are considered less human and dehumanized racially have not been white.
All black Brazilians are Neymar, who has never really taken a stand on the issue of racial silence that frustrates many black Brazilians, because of his refusal to speak out about it, but not because of his athletic skill.
One could argue that Brazil is the breeding ground for the creation of a large number of visible African ancestry people who don’t see themselves represented in terms of being black like Neymar, but Neymar isn’t alone in not seeing people who share his own racial consciousness and encouraging them to follow suit.
Below, Bruno de Castro recounts his narrative.
To a certain degree, all Brazilian players who wear black jerseys are like Neymar.
Written by Bruno de Castro.
At the age of 28, Neymar Jr., Commonly known as the boy Neymar, experienced racism during a French championship game last Sunday (9/13). After retaliating against provocations, he expressed his anger on social media platforms when he was expelled from the game. The defender Álvaro González from Olympique de Marseille racially insulted him by calling him a monkey.
If this happens, it is useless to Neymar that he has achieved so many other achievements, such as 23 official titles, 7 collective awards, 53 individual awards, 229 assists, 405 goals, and 639 games. As usual, he later denied it (and they tried to define him based solely on the color of his skin). Imagine the dreams of a little black boy who idolizes him! Imagine Mariazinha, the lady from the favela who crosses the city every day to clean up at her white boss’s house! This would be one of the most important players in the history of Futebol.
Neymar exposed the situation that was scorned by reacting to historical silence towards anti-racist causes. We all are a little bit Neymar, knowing that we are born black, that’s the simple reason none of us was born knowing everything about blackness. But we need to be honest in this debate to some extent: we are all a little bit Neymar, knowing everything about blackness. Many thousands, millions will go through life without being able to identify such a racist manifestation already incorporated into life. Later, others were/are introduced early to the idiotic face of the racist world.
I am certainly not ashamed of that. And there were many things that I kept quiet about until that moment. A journalist and of African descent. Black, specifically. Black, but not a darker-skinned person like I always thought of myself and was perceived. It took me over thirty years to truly see myself when confronted with a black man. It was only at the age of 32 that I realized, for instance, that I am black. Yes, it was me.
I am not ashamed to know that we are all included in the endless deconstruction of the process, including the darkest blacks. I will not understand the immensity of being an individual with dark skin, and my time will end here. All of life presents us with aspects of racism and blackness that we need to mold ourselves to. Should we confront or accommodate? I ask for help from intelligent and more experienced friends to grow from all of this. I read to be introduced to other perspectives on the subject, I listen, and I live the experience! I know nothing.
This journey of mine began at the start, I was a different Bruno back then than I am today. Others grew with me, becoming a part of my collective, I followed the flow, exploring new spaces. The site grew with it, and I grew with it, maturing along the way. The site remained. Alongside four fellow communicators, I had the initial desire to complete an extension course and deliver a project as a guarantee of a certificate. Fortunately, I realized that I am the one who is truly involved in the creation process of Criolo Ceará’s website, starting in October 2018. Unlike Neymar, I didn’t see myself as black in a racist episode. It has been like that for me, like a journey of self-discovery for the past two years.
Racism, an unforgiving force, is a phenomenon that demands immense resilience from us to prevent ourselves from losing our sanity. During this journey, my family and friends played a crucial role in providing me with a strong support system. As my friend Preto Zezé used to mention, individuals often struggle to cope with the harsh reality of how racism permeates society. However, I managed to overcome it, thanks to his wise advice.
I was aware of the bitterness that these episodes in my life hold. We receive more affirmations than rejections. It is heartbreaking to be both a victim of certain targeted attacks and to lose a job, with the primary factor being the color of your skin. The most painful situations are the ones that have the most impact on our professional lives. I am grateful for the “naivete” I had in the past when facing certain situations, as I look back on them now.
I am unable to return, fully conscious of my identity, both internally and externally, and I state this unequivocally, regardless of whether I agree or not, as the bigotry of another individual is not influenced by my wishes. I merely acknowledge the presence of these emotional scars – I consider this line of thinking to be perilous; I do not support the notion that “those who have endured the most deserve greater acknowledgment”, nor do I idealize these wounds. With that being said.
I don’t mean walls. I don’t mean walls. Even without realizing it, we often find ourselves in a certain environment that conditions us. It is impossible. Since October 2018, Bruno has been looking at the possibility of the world unraveling in this way, but he doesn’t even dare to think about it. Sometimes, this moment postpones our purposeful feeling for (pre) decisive moments in life, which we know will be decisive for many people. We can take a long time. I say this because I understand that Neymar made me survive many things with his ignorance. I found out late.
Each moment sets us apart from what you do. I repeat, it is not an option to remain silent. Neither wrong nor right. It’s a short nap, but it’s long enough for others. After a night’s sleep, waking up feels like a slap. Each individual has a very specific time to flourish in darkness. Talent, fame, or fortune does not depend on it.
I believe that as an anti-racist individual, I feel morally obligated to publicly position myself as a person who not only recognizes the rights of others, but also practices anti-racism by honoring the millions of black people who have fought and died for these rights. In doing so, I am aware of the literal significance of racial prejudice, particularly in relation to my own blackness.
It is necessary to fight for these extended rights. It is not fair to remain silent. Thanks to the social movements’ struggle for the criminalization of racism, I can now prosecute someone who directs a racist attack towards me. Just like many other crimes committed against people financed by the Brazilian state. Centuries ago, women and black men claimed an end to the constitutional ban on attending school based on color. Now, I am employed under a formal contract and have the opportunity to pursue higher education.
At this specific moment, the political player’s convictions, which are controversial, do not matter to me. I do not see Neymar as spoiled or allege that he is. However, it does matter that our fight to raise demands is in the front line of this boy’s carat athlete within the entertainment universe. I believe that within the sports world, notably futebol, there is a space that demands the deconstruction of the most anti-black, homophobic, sexist, and macho narratives. It is only recently discovered that Neymar, in his public position, has another face that exists in the face of racism. I sincerely hope for a different public position from Neymar.
It needs to be treated like that. Racism is a crime. Racism is not part of the game. Racism is not a game. It is essential to diminish racism and its fundamental collective effects. It dehumanizes someone and causes pain. Especially in episodes of racist attacks, it is necessary to say that I would lessen someone’s pain. It is a necessary paradox, I would say. It is possible to be in solidarity with him and perfectly defend against what he stands for.
It would already be an immense service to render to the collective awareness that feeling superior and having a low attitude is illegal, as it contributes to the inferiorization of individuals based on the color of their skin. Therefore, demanding punishment for González Álvaro is justified, even if it is only in his own favor. It is necessary to understand that embracing and recognizing the importance of black players is crucial for our own benefit. Of course, this is also true for Neymar, who is seen as a role model by millions of black boys in the favelas. After all, Neymar is a Brazilian, and all Brazilians are black.
In the business of acquiring Neymar, there is a clear lack of interest from those who should be more enthusiastic. Furthermore, the way this person reacts and speaks about the paradigm shift reveals their true disposition. Additionally, their words and actions towards the victim indicate a racist attitude.
We are here to ask you not to suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, as there are many other nameless characteristics associated with a president who supports sexism, homophobia, and racism. It is now up to you to discover that all that remains is to support anti-racists and to welcome people who are aware of their own blackness and the blackness of their own team.