Not here!
When racism and religion intolerance mix, African- Brazilian creeds and religions suffer with the disrespect and violence. The Candomble is the one that gets affected the most Talita Laurino
O
ver the speed limit a car crosses the fence of the terreiro -piece of land where the Candomble cults are celebrated-, the candombleista -what Candomble followers are called - and pedagogue Ludmila Freitas hides behind a cement vase while the car keeps speeding up on her direction. From a miracle of the Orixás -Candomble deities - the vase protected her from the car, saving her without one scratch. This is the fourth time that Ludmila suffers with an attack from the same man. The first few times were less aggressive, without physical violence. He was trying to argue that the opening of the terreiro in Paranaguá was illegal and would call the police during the cult saying that it was disturbing the neighborhood. “I used to ask the police officers if a birthday party with 15 people together would also
12 revistacdm | culture
make someone call the cops,” remembers Ludimila. She considers herself lucky that when the cops arrive, it was always a black cop that would end up sensibilized by the story of the space that was open by a black old lady with her daughter (Ludimila). Her mom that is also a mãe de santo -mother of saints and important figure at the cults- also doesn’t feel safe on her own terreiro space. This story was told on the 2ª general convocation during the African descent religion forum, where politicians hear the case of intolerance and violence suffered by candomblecistas and umbantisas -and other popular african descentent religion that is practiced in Brazil. After listening to Ludimila story, the coordinator of Racial Equity from Curitiba´s mayor office, Adegmar José da Silva, also known as Candieiro, raised his vice to
