The article by Erika Robb Larkins reflects an aspect of Brazilian favelas that makes the unique, certainly when compared to neighborhoods in the United States. What sets the favelas apart is the degree to which the traditional state and police forces lack authority. In rough neighborhoods in the US, the environment may be dangerous, but the police are still in charge. In the favelas of Sao Paulo, Rio, and other cities, the gangs make the rules and "keep the peace." The complete lack of respect for the police among residents is something unique to favelas, although recent events in the United States could be making the dynamic more similar in that respect.
The degree to which there are no rules in the favelas is made shockingly and powerfully clear by the movie City of God. Characters like Lil' Ze are the closest thing the neighborhood has to authority figures, the police are continually portrayed as useless and inept. Any police raids and assaults that occur in the movie appear to be all for show, much like how Larkins describes the police raids she witnessed during her time in the El Dorado favela. In the movie, it is obvious that all the meaningful power in the City of God slum is wielded by the "hoods."
It is easy to see how the backwards power dynamic of the favelas contributes to a cycle of violence. With the notable exception of the main character, Rocket, just about every character who lives in the favela in City of God gets caught up in gang violence, even the seemingly incorruptible Knockout Ned. When gangsters like Lil' Ze get so powerful, young kids like The Runts grow up aspiring to be like them and eventually take their place. When opportunities for legitimate success outside of a life of crime seem nonexistent (Rocket refers to his job at the grocery store as "getting played"), the gang life ends up looking like the only path that makes sense. It is a cycle that is proving to be very difficult to break.
No comments:
Post a Comment