Comments on: Brazil: The Last Remaining Place to be a Black Man http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/ The Future is Here Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:26:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lester Spence http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Lester Spence Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:35:30 +0000 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/?p=68#comment-87 Excellent point. Excellent point.

]]> By: Temple3 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Temple3 Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:34:12 +0000 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/?p=68#comment-86 I read this article a few days ago in Essence. The implications are significant. For one, it suggests that the popular conception of Black men within the United States (by the media, the academy, and just about everyone else) is probably about 10 to 20 years behind the times. We were talking about Brazil at U-M in the 1990's - long before Snoop went 187 on an under cover cop. I felt like Jelani's article (aside from the fact that only the last half-page or so dealt with the real issues from a Brazilian perspective) emphasized the moral juxtaposition of black disadvantage in the US with black American advantage in Brazil...and that, for me, is not the real issue. Black manhood has never been defined (at least as far as I can see) by our capacity to pay for sex from anybody. Hell, even if we take this straight to the Mac/Pimp game (consider Snoop's image and "alliance" with Don Magic Juan), the point is certainly not to pay. Even in this nihilistic misogynistic framework, the exploitation of women does not entail paying for sex or achieving your fantasies by spending your own money. In point of fact, these men constitute a large body of "marks" for Brazilian profiteers who remain invisible in Jelani's article. Prostitution may be legal in Brazil, but I find it hard to believe that it is not closely rooted to a male-dominated mechanism of organized crime. I could be wrong about that - but I can't tell based on the article. I read this article a few days ago in Essence. The implications are significant. For one, it suggests that the popular conception of Black men within the United States (by the media, the academy, and just about everyone else) is probably about 10 to 20 years behind the times. We were talking about Brazil at U-M in the 1990’s – long before Snoop went 187 on an under cover cop.

I felt like Jelani’s article (aside from the fact that only the last half-page or so dealt with the real issues from a Brazilian perspective) emphasized the moral juxtaposition of black disadvantage in the US with black American advantage in Brazil…and that, for me, is not the real issue.

Black manhood has never been defined (at least as far as I can see) by our capacity to pay for sex from anybody. Hell, even if we take this straight to the Mac/Pimp game (consider Snoop’s image and “alliance” with Don Magic Juan), the point is certainly not to pay. Even in this nihilistic misogynistic framework, the exploitation of women does not entail paying for sex or achieving your fantasies by spending your own money. In point of fact, these men constitute a large body of “marks” for Brazilian profiteers who remain invisible in Jelani’s article. Prostitution may be legal in Brazil, but I find it hard to believe that it is not closely rooted to a male-dominated mechanism of organized crime. I could be wrong about that – but I can’t tell based on the article.

]]> By: Spedy http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Spedy Fri, 25 Aug 2006 01:24:57 +0000 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/?p=68#comment-85 I understand that it is real, but you also realize that the money (US Dollars) is the reason. Reading the article, one can only think of the prostitutes of the US. There is a disconnect. Men like the fantasy. That's no doubt, but I don't believe this could be "the last place on Earth you can be a Black Man". I know you were probably doing a tongue in cheek thing, but do you really think that this a Black Man only deal? That's rhetorical. ;-) I understand that it is real, but you also realize that the money (US Dollars) is the reason. Reading the article, one can only think of the prostitutes of the US. There is a disconnect.

Men like the fantasy. That’s no doubt, but I don’t believe this could be “the last place on Earth you can be a Black Man”. I know you were probably doing a tongue in cheek thing, but do you really think that this a Black Man only deal? That’s rhetorical. ;-)

]]> By: Lester Spence http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Lester Spence Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:39:38 +0000 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/?p=68#comment-84 The "sex" part isn't what is important...it is the "sex" part combined with the "race" part. Black men are going to Brazil specifically to pay for sex with beautiful, poverty stricken Brazilian women. This isn't just a tordid Enquirer type story. It has very real public health implications, very real political implications. The larger picture you refer to is present within this much smaller story. The “sex” part isn’t what is important…it is the “sex” part combined with the “race” part. Black men are going to Brazil specifically to pay for sex with beautiful, poverty stricken Brazilian women. This isn’t just a tordid Enquirer type story. It has very real public health implications, very real political implications. The larger picture you refer to is present within this much smaller story.

]]> By: Spedy http://blacksmythe.com/blog/2006/08/21/brazil-the-last-remaining-place-to-be-a-black-man/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Spedy Wed, 23 Aug 2006 19:06:24 +0000 http://blacksmythe.com/blog/?p=68#comment-83 I was under the impression that Brazil is oppressive to the darker skinned Brasilians. If that is the case, why is the "sex" part important. He could have went to Amsterdam and had a similar experience. The only difference would have been the color of the women. Oh yeah, I hear you can smoke dope there legally as well. I too have heard the stories, but I guess this was the best way to keep the attention of the readers. Can't believe the readers are that naive, and they prove they they're not with the comments to the articles. There is a larger picture that the sex trade, and I doubt that the cost to get to Rio is "really" worth the sex-a-pades ordeal. I was under the impression that Brazil is oppressive to the darker skinned Brasilians. If that is the case, why is the “sex” part important. He could have went to Amsterdam and had a similar experience. The only difference would have been the color of the women. Oh yeah, I hear you can smoke dope there legally as well.

I too have heard the stories, but I guess this was the best way to keep the attention of the readers. Can’t believe the readers are that naive, and they prove they they’re not with the comments to the articles. There is a larger picture that the sex trade, and I doubt that the cost to get to Rio is “really” worth the sex-a-pades ordeal.

]]>