Regardless of your “what ifs,” the defeat for progressives has been incalculable.
What are the chances that you haven’t seen the sexual harassment allegations against former Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida? Almost zero, right? But in short, he has been accused of sexual harassment by more than one person and among them is the Minister for Racial Equality, Anielle Fraco. This hit the government like a bomb and culminated in Silvio’s dismissal. After all this, several questions have been raised and so far we know only one thing for sure: the defeat of the progressive camp has been gigantic.
Silvio is the author of the book Structural Racism, which has served as a basis for many people to understand how the race issue is rooted in our society. He was, or still is, the most famous black person among the general public in both politics and the intellectual field. He became a minister to replace Damares Alves, a minister highly appointed by the left for thinking about everything except human rights. When Silvio took over as an agent it was a joy for everyone, especially for blacks, he was doing a good job, becoming more and more known, acting with dignity within his ministry and there are even those who say he worked so well that he irritated the people in the government.
On the other hand, we have Anielle Franco, Minister for Racial Equality, brother of Marielle Franco, teacher, teacher, who, to tell the truth, unlike Silvio, was not a name that I liked for the position. After taking over the ministry, she had some attitudes that left me rather frustrated. She never went to people who, in my opinion, would have used an entire ministry in the most effective way to benefit the black population.
Finally, we also have the government, which despite being left-wing and attentive to social issues, has other demands that, it seems, seem to be more important. So the government does not want a media scandal, it does not want anyone inside Armenia to have its wheels in their way and it is more interested in political negotiations than in identity issues. And I do not even express a value judgment on these choices, after all I am fully aware that there is no government without negotiations and artifices.
Anyone who has read this far will be thinking that this guy will say that it was a government maneuver to launch it now, because Silvio supposedly took money from NGOs, or that I have hundreds of cases of harassment reported to the CJU, but it was all hushed up, last year there were almost 1000 cases and everything was hidden, but no. I want to make it very clear that, even if all this were true, it does not change the accusation. And if it were confirmed, there would be no conversation. You cannot relativize the violation of women’s bodies.
If he were white, would it be different? Of course. If I know, and you know, wouldn’t he know, being the biggest name on the racial issue in Brazil, politically speaking? I tell you that being a black man, knowing how people judge me, I avoid playing with children, especially white girls, not only do I look away from women, but I also turn my head away so as not to leave room for interpretation. We know very well how easily we can be accused. And with this I am not saying that all black men are saints, but those who are racially aware and want to escape problems must make an extra effort because we know that we do not have the presumption of innocence as many white men do.
I am not saying that Silvio is guilty either. But yes, you have to investigate. Especially since others seemed to accuse him, even before he was a minister. And as I said above, if this turns out to be true, he will have to be duly punished. The mere thought of this possibility makes me very uncomfortable. In the scenario where he is guilty, I wonder how irresponsible he is towards the cause he defends so much. He knows that blacks are judged as a group, he knows that he dreamed of a community there, just as he also knows that any mistake he made, especially in the magnitude of the accusations, would have delayed years of struggle. In other words, if the accusations against him were proven, he is not only a molester but he does not even care about the racial cause.
Now there is one point that we cannot deny. It is over. If tomorrow they prove that he is innocent, that it was not exactly like that, that they actually had their weight, nothing will change. And this too is an issue that must be discussed. How many who are now seeking his head will retreat and give up the same stage if things change the scenario? Because I will not be a hypocrite, okay? As a black man, I know well that the sentence comes before the trial.
In this case I preferred to wait a little longer to say a more incisive word, you know? For me everything is possible. I don’t doubt that Silvio could have been harassed, I don’t doubt that the government wanted to overthrow him, I don’t doubt that Anielle is a victim, just as I don’t doubt that a black man who is the minister The dismissal for human rights on charges of sexual harassment is a bomb in the racial cause and will arm many people who like to mitigate the racial issue within the left itself.
The question that intrigues me and that we should reflect on as the investigations continue, is how we will recover from this hard blow. Another thing is that those who think Silvio is guilty should focus on him and not on all the black men, those who think Anielle lied should remember that the women involved in these cases are the exception and those who think that the government was opportunistic and are surprised, my advice is from those who understand more about politics and never forget that a government, regardless of which side, calmly cuts the right ones, if they are not aligned with its gears.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
