Brazil Court Fines Bolsonaro for “Recreational Racism”
On Tuesday, a federal court in Brazil imposed a fine of 1 million Brazilian Reais (about $188,750) on former president Jair Bolsonaro for what has been labeled “recreational racism.”
This ruling came from the third panel of the Federal Regional Court of the Fourth Region, which found that Bolsonaro had caused “collective moral damage” through official statements that showed prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance towards Black individuals.
The court highlighted that Bolsonaro’s comments regarding Afro hairstyles—specifically the “Black Power” style—were deemed as acts of “recreational racism.” Judge Roguelio Favreto noted that Bolsonaro attempted to mask the “racist” nature of his statements with humor in a 2021 incident.
An incident that caught attention occurred in May 2021 outside the Alvorada Palace, when Bolsonaro, while amidst supporters sporting afros, reportedly remarked that he “saw a cockroach” in one man’s hair. This comment was later treated as a joke during a live stream invitation to the same supporters in July of that year.
The civil lawsuit against Bolsonaro originated in Rio Grande do Sul and was brought forth by prosecutors and public defenders who argued that his remarks were “discriminatory and offensive” to the Black community. Reports also indicated that Bolsonaro claimed he was not a “sacrificed Black man” in response to the backlash.
The court’s ruling described such remarks as linking Black hair to undesirable creatures, thereby attacking the honor and dignity of Black people and reinforcing negative stereotypes associated with poverty. The ruling emphasized that this type of “joking” stems from a historical context of slavery aimed at dehumanizing enslaved individuals.
Favreto classified Bolsonaro’s comments as an act of “recreational racism,” suggesting a strategy to promote unequal relationships among racial groups using humor as a tool for racial hostility.
This ruling overturned a previous decision made by Justice Anna Maria Wickert in 2023, which had dismissed a request for increased moral damages from the same remarks.
One of Bolsonaro’s supporters, Maikon Sliban, publicly defended the former president on social media, arguing against using him as a scapegoat for accusations of racism, insisting he would support Bolsonaro’s defense until he is acquitted.
Sliban went further, questioning whether such justice, aimed at “recreation,” was truly justified. He highlighted that he was being punished for jokes and playful interactions, emphasizing a sense of injustice in the situation.
In recent developments, Bolsonaro, now 70, has been facing other legal troubles, including recent charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. Following a narrow defeat to current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he has been under scrutiny for potential involvement in a coup plot.
Bolsonaro’s health has also raised concerns. He was hospitalized after undergoing surgery to remove skin lesions and was later found to suffer from anemia and pneumonia, among other health issues. He had been on house arrest since August and was admitted to the hospital due to worsening symptoms recently.
In a social media post, his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, provided updates on his medical condition, indicating tests showed anemia and renal dysfunction, although an MRI did not reveal any acute changes. She noted some improvement after treatment but stated that further assessments were planned.
