Comparisons can be fun and informative though, even if they’re only anecdotal. I haven’t been to Brazil in around 10 years, but I used to go there frequently, mostly São Paulo and Rio, but also Brasilia, Fortaleza, and Recife. Never made it to Manaus. The thing that struck me most about about the differences between our two countries is the way I am treated when I’m just bumming around town. Brazilians have a warmth about them that I don’t feel in most U.S. cities. I love those corner lunch counters they have all over São Paulo. Nine times out of ten when I’d sit down and order a smoothie and an empanada, somebody would sit down next to me and strike up a conversation. That almost never happens in the U.S. of A.
As for structural racism, I think over the curve of our history we’re generally moving in the right direction. Progress can be agonizingly slow and sometimes it’s two steps forward and one one step back, but big picture wise we’ve gotten better over the years. Of course there’s still work to be done, and the last four years feels like a giant step back, but I’m still optimistic about the future. Fix the institutions and the hearts and minds will follow, or so the theory goes. It ain’t gonna be fixed in my lifetime, but it’s gotten a lot better. I grew up in South Carolina during the sixties and seventies, and I’ve seen huge improvements there. When I was growing up the confederate battle flag flew on our statehouse, just below the United States flag and the state flag. It’s gone now. Hallelujah.
Ecurb, thanks. I never knew that detail about the book and Stegner’s father.
Wolf, I don’t know, man. I’ve always been more of a bean eater. Beans and Cornbread Mmm-Mmm good.
Hey, anybody else find this website super slow to load a page?