(RE)THINKING RACE AND RACISM: THE WOUND, THE HURT, THE SEARCH FOR A CURE FROM A TRUE DRAMA

Abstract

In this paper, I present some parts of my dissertation defended in 2023, where I analyze testimonies produced and shared during the dynamics carried out in the research field. I carried out participant observation in the “Território Hip-Hop” program of the city of São Paulo – a public policy initiative achieved by the activism of Hip-Hop culture in the city. This immersion allowed me to understand the dynamics and interactions of young black people and people from the outskirts of the city who participated in the program’s activities. I used rap excerpts from artists such as Baco Exu do Blues, Cristal and Djonga to produce data. The songs were used as provocations, allowing questions and reflections to be raised, rather than just providing definitive answers. I organized an experiment with two focus groups and conducted semi-structured interviews with some of these adolescents, capturing their perspectives and situated knowledge. This methodological approach allowed an analysis of the experiences, identity constructions and positioning of the young people, contextualizing their experiences in everyday life. During the production and analysis of the data, I investigated the voices and knowledge of these young people who identify with Hip-Hop culture. I sought to understand the subjective effects of the messages of blackness present in rap, which describe racial realities in Brazil. In this way, I analyzed how these messages influence life trajectories and perspectives, shaping identities and identifications. The interviews and discussions revealed rap as a powerful transformative tool that stimulates deep reflections and transcends the fight against oppression, being a knowledge carried out by the body and voice, representing multiple experiences.