Brazil has its first ever black head of the Supreme Court
Brazil judge Joaquim Barbosa took the oath of office as Brazil's first ever Afro descendant head of the Federal Supreme Tribunal (Supreme Court) on Thursday, in a historic ceremony attended by President Dilma Rousseff and other top leaders.
The son of a bricklayer and a cleaner Barbosa, 58, pledged in his swearing in “to fulfil the duties of the office of the President of the Federal Supreme Court and the National Council of Justice under the law.”
Barbosa's elevation to the top judicial post in Brazil, the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, in 1888, has been heralded as a breakthrough. Despite constituting a majority of the population (52%), Afro-Brazilians languish at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Only 2.2% of Afro descendants make it to university.
Barbosa shot to fame as the court's most vocal critic of a congressional vote-buying scheme laid bare in an ongoing trial -- dubbed “Mensalao” or “big monthly payments” -- of former president Lula da Silva's top aides.
The scandal nearly cost Lula re-election in 2006, but the 66-year-old founder and leader of the leftist Workers' Party was cleared.
The former president also originally nominated Barbosa to join the top court nine years ago. But it was his performance in a so-called “trial of the century” secured his reputation as an implacable fighter against corruption.
Barbosa, who earned a PhD in public law at the French Sorbonne University, replaced Carlos Ayres Britto, who retired at age 70. He is fluent in French, German, Italian and English.
“I must honestly declare that there is a great deficit of justice in our country. Not all Brazilians are treated with the same consideration before the courts. What we see here is privileged treatment” said Magistrate Barbosa in his brief speech.
“The criminal courts in Brazil penalize and much…but mainly blacks, the poor and overall the minorities” regretted Barbosa in a recent interview.
Barbosa was born in a small village in Minas Gerais to a very humble home: his mother was a maid and his father manual worker. However he moved to Brasilia to study working as a cleaner in the courts and later in a printing shop. Finally he made it to the best universities only reserved for the rich in Brazil.
Suggested Stories
-
May 21st 2013
Brazil main opposition party elects a new leader and 2014 presidential hopeful
-
May 20th 2013
Brazil opens ports to private investment hoping to ease bottlenecks strangling exports growth
-
May 20th 2013
Brazil trapped by Argentina and Venezuela economic mismanagements
-
May 15th 2013
Brazilian Finance ministry top official resigns after ten years in office
22 comments Feed
Note: Comments do not reflect MercoPress’ opinions. They are the personal view of our users. We wish to keep this as open and unregulated as possible. However, rude or foul language, discriminative comments (based on ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or the sort), spamming or any other offensive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. Please report any inadequate posts to the editor. Comments must be in English. Thank you.
Brazil! War is coming!
#4 A bit random, no?
BRAZIL! Land to all peoples from Universe!
Well congratulations Your Honour, no doubt worked hard for it and well deserved. A person should be recognised by the content of their ability and character, not by their colour, Jessie Owens taught us that, we just took a long time to learn it.
Digressing somewhat, I checked out the link on Brazils armed forces, impressive, not suprising though, as they were the only SA country to contribute forces to the allied effort in Italy, in WW2.
The Brazilia Brigade fought with courage and distinction out of all proportion to their size. Many a young Brazilian boy did not return a long, long, long way home. Thank you, next Nov 11, I will be very careful to remember you lads!
Another Daft Vader
As far as I know, they were doing diversity before it even became a PC word. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but do they not have a diverse population that has not had the racial problems the rest of us had or still have. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is something we can learn from them.
A man who makes a mistake once is wrong, a man who makes a mistake twice is stubborn, a man who continues to make mistakes, is a fool!
brazil is growing,
as long as she does not let bad apples influence her, she will be ok,
if they listen to CFK and hugo the bear,
they will go the same way.
Well done!!!!
What? with the money they are raking in!
To their faces they will nod and smile.
When their backs are turned, through pursed lips, a slight whisper, “Wankers!”
To all South-americans!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni5YL4p-sA4&feature=g-vrec
We can!
Sorry do not speak Portugese, watched your link and think that you are saying you can host the Olympics in 16.
Man do not know what you call the statue on the mountain, but it's iconic, recognised and envied throughout the world, looks bloody beautiful at night.
Why bother telling all South Americans what we already know. Your Olympics will be spectacular, but better than that, unique. Olympics in Rio! man. the greatest sporting event in the world and probably the greatest Carnival, a Carnival of sport. Can not wait for it.
On a personal note, it will be my Golden (30 year) wedding anniversary, wonder if she would mind a trip to Rio.
Olimpic games and Fifa wolrd Cup! Brazil is friend, brother. Included Argentinians hermanos! I dont more in english language because i dont know. My words “são poucas”. “Não consigo me comunicar direito, por isso uso vídeos”!
www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=wSdHp4U2_m8&feature=endscreen
he is very polite,
or its google translation.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!