Brazil’s Favelas: Unraveling the Past

By: Zeke Gutierrez

October 12, 2017

The favelas in Brazil are violent to the naked eye; it was initially a worry when I decided to embark on my study-abroad journey. Due to the rates of crime and drug violence, my family and friends told me to stay away from these areas. When I arrived in July, I heard the same story, “90 percent of the people that live in favelas are hard-working, but it is that remaining 10 percent that makes it unstable.” Heeding the warnings of Brazilians and internationals, I stayed away from the favelas, even those that are considered pacificadas (peaceful), where there tends to be a stronger police presence, less violence, and greater tourism. The favelas stretch up the mountainsides, meaning they are always within sight, making us acknowledge their presence.

The south zone of Rio is economically prosperous, and most people living in this area are college-educated and hold white collar jobs. The most expensive real estate in Brazil is situated in this zone, which is where most of the tourists visit. There is a drastic change in the north zone, which is considered the business and working center. During the day, people are running to work, but after the workday ends, it becomes a vacant area with some colonial architecture and abandoned buildings with graffiti protesting the economic and political situation. As a foreigner, I’ve found myself differentiating the zones based on my understanding of class and privilege from the United States. I’ve had to critically think about the historical formation of these communities and what the people and state are doing. 

The individuals living in favelas are often treated as second class citizens by the police force, politicians, and other Brazilians. One-third of the six million people in Rio live in favelas, which have been neglected by the state and lack the proper infrastructure to support many individuals living there. This relationship has generated distrust and rejection between the membros da comunidade, individuals living in the favelas, and the Cariocas, individuals who are born and raised in the city of Rio. Even though the favelas form a large portion of the population, they sustain themselves without much government assistance. 

The Brazilian police force is currently under a human rights crisis as they are accused of disproportionately killing poor and black individuals. We can trace this systematic violence to the end of slavery in 1888, when freed slaves did not have proper housing in the city. They built their homes on the mountainsides, which allowed them to walk into town for work but separated them from the rest of society. If the people do not trust the state because of the high rates of violence and corruption, then who can they trust to bring order and stability? How would you accommodate one-third of the population and effectively incorporate them into the city when the government continues to neglect them?

Over the past few months, my perspective about favelas has changed because of the conversations with community organizers and non-profit employees who work with poverty alleviation and education initiatives. One organizer told me, “Every individual has the same right to live, work, and study. Just because you have more money, doesn’t mean your life is more important. The people living in favelas care about each other because we have been put aside. We have constructed our own city within Rio.” As I continue to reflect on my study abroad journey in Rio, I think about a popular song, called "eu só quero ser feliz," or “I just want to be happy.” It describes the endeavor of seeking happiness within the tumultuous environment that surrounds Rio. The city is so vast and diverse that multiple factors affect favelas. Ultimately, social inclusion through subsidized housing could be one of the initial steps towards a solution. The factors of social exclusion related to class and race are evident, but there are many initiatives from community members that make me hopeful of a more socially inclusive society.

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