Lopes Class, ethnicity, and color....

CLASS, ETHNICITY, AND COLOR IN THE MAKING OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL

Presented by: Miles Price

HISTORY OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL

• Football (soccer) originated as an elite sport for European settlers in the early 1900s.

• The first European football league was organized in 1901 in São Paulo.

• There was a significant divide between the working class and the elite during this period.

• Factories and companies supported and created teams, impacting access to the sport.

HISTORY CONTINUED

• Factories provided direct access to football for the working class.

• Worker-players: Factory workers who also played football for their respective factories.

• Bangu and Andarai were notable factory clubs that promoted diversity within their teams (early 1900s).

• Teams included a mix of poor whites, mixed race, and black worker-players.

SOCIAL TENSIONS

Vasco da Gama

• Vasco da Gama became the first mixed ethnicity team to win the Rio City Championship in 1923.

• The team recruited top players from working-class suburbs, setting a precedent for diversity in football.

• Vasco's championship run prompted a shift in football diversity across Brazil.

SOCIAL TENSIONS PT. 2

• Vasco's success led to defensive measures against sub-social groups participating in football.

• Major clubs and factories formed a new league aimed at excluding these diverse groups.

• The new league imposed literacy requirements on players, highlighting elitism.

• Yellow amateurism: Elite and predominantly white football leagues emerged in Brazil.

BLACK PLAYERS & THE EMERGENCE OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

• In the 1930s, many Brazilians transitioned from amateur football to European clubs for better opportunities.

• The departure of Brazil's top amateur players forced local clubs to professionalize and invest more resources into football.

• Black and mixed-race players gained popularity in European clubs during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

• Professional football emerged as a means of “emancipation” for black footballers in Brazil.

RESURGENCE OF RACIAL STEREOTYPES

• The 1950 World Cup loss led to blame directed at black footballers.

• The white elite stereotype was reinforced in Brazilian football following media portrayals.

• In the 1954 World Cup, another loss to Switzerland exacerbated stereotypes surrounding race and performance.

REVERSAL OF STIGMAS

• Brazil's victories in the 1958 & 1962 World Cups resulted in societal changes regarding race.

• These wins diversified football culture and created new roles for worker-players.

BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL TODAY

• Pelé’s contributions propelled Brazil into a golden age of football, securing victories in the 1958, 1962, and 1970 World Cups.

• Black Brazilian footballers received more opportunities in the sport.

• Currently, over 50% of the Brazilian national team comprises mixed-race or black players.

• Brazil has been rated among the top 5 teams globally over the past 20 years.

CONCLUSION

• Brazilian football in the early 1900s was marked by segregation.

• The establishment of factory teams facilitated working-class access to football.

• The excellence displayed in the sport enabled professional opportunities for black and mixed-race players.

• World Cup successes contributed to a reformation of social constructs in Brazil.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

• How does the development of Brazilian football relate to broader trends in other sports?

• In what ways does the evolution of Brazilian football illustrate its potential to alter societal perspectives on race and ethnicity?

• How do achievements in World Cups influence societal views on race and ethnicity?

SOURCES

• Leite Lopez. (N.D.). Class, Ethnicity, and Color in the Making of Brazilian Football on JSTOR. Retrieved from JSTOR Link

• Pelé video: Pelé Highlights

CLASS, ETHNICITY, AND COLOR IN THE MAKING OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL

HISTORY OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL Football (soccer) in Brazil began as an elite sport primarily enjoyed by European settlers during the early 1900s. In 1901, São Paulo organized its first European football league, which marked the formal emergence of the sport in the country. This period was characterized by a marked divide between the working class and the elite, with many factories and companies creating and supporting football teams. This institutional support significantly impacted access to the sport, further entrenching class distinctions.

HISTORY CONTINUED Despite the class divide, factories played a crucial role in providing direct access to football for the working class. Factory workers, who also played football for their respective companies, were known as worker-players. Notable factory-based clubs like Bangu and Andarai prioritized diversity within their teams during the early 1900s. These clubs fielded a mix of poor whites, mixed-race, and black worker-players, challenging the prevailing norms of exclusivity in the sport.

SOCIAL TENSIONS A significant moment in Brazilian football's history occurred in 1923 when Vasco da Gama became the first mixed-ethnicity team to win the Rio City Championship. By recruiting top players from working-class suburbs, Vasco set a precedent for diversity and inclusivity in football. Their success catalyzed a shift towards increased diversity across Brazilian football as other teams followed their lead. However, this triumph also incited defensive measures from established clubs and factories that sought to exclude these diverse groups from participation.

SOCIAL TENSIONS PT. 2 In a reaction to Vasco’s rise, major clubs and factories formed a new league aimed explicitly at keeping these players out of football. This new league imposed literacy requirements on players, which served as a tool of elitism and exclusion. Consequently, a phenomenon known as yellow amateurism emerged, in which elite and predominantly white football leagues flourished, further marginalizing the working-class and racially diverse players.

BLACK PLAYERS & THE EMERGENCE OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL The 1930s marked a pivotal transition as many Brazilian footballers moved from amateur play to professional clubs in Europe, chasing better opportunities. This exodus of Brazil's top amateur talents forced local clubs to innovate, professionalizing and investing more in the sport. During this time, black and mixed-race players found growing recognition in European football, particularly in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The shift to professional football became a means of emancipation for many black players in Brazil, affirming their place within the sport.

RESURGENCE OF RACIAL STEREOTYPES Brazil's football narrative took a darker turn following the loss in the 1950 World Cup when black footballers were unfairly blamed for the defeat. This incident further reinforced existing stereotypes of white elite superiority within Brazilian football, particularly following the 1954 World Cup loss to Switzerland, which exacerbated the racial stereotypes surrounding performance and racial identity in the sport.

REVERSAL OF STIGMAS However, Brazil’s remarkable victories in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups were significant turning points that resulted in societal changes regarding race in football. These triumphs not only diversified the football culture but also created new roles for worker-players, challenging the existing stereotypes and social constructs.

BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL TODAY The contributions of iconic players such as Pelé played a crucial role in propelling Brazil into a golden age of football, with the nation securing World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. As a result of these successes, black Brazilian footballers began to enjoy more opportunities in the sport. Today, over 50% of the Brazilian national team comprises mixed-race or black players, and Brazil has consistently ranked among the top five international teams over the past two decades.

CONCLUSION The evolution of Brazilian football since the early 1900s has been marked by segregation and class distinctions. The establishment of factory teams provided access for working-class individuals to participate in football, paving the way for professional opportunities for black and mixed-race players. Additionally, the success of national teams in the World Cups contributed to a reformation of societal constructs around race and ethnicity in Brazil.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

• How does the development of Brazilian football relate to broader trends in other sports?

• In what ways does the evolution of Brazilian football illustrate its potential to alter societal perspectives on race and ethnicity?

• How do achievements in World Cups influence societal views on race and ethnicity?

SOURCES

• Leite Lopez. (N.D.). Class, Ethnicity, and Color in the Making of Brazilian Football on JSTOR. Retrieved from JSTOR Link

• Pelé video: Pelé Highlights