Thread by @mariliacout

1 / #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions: I was 9 yrs old when I came to Athens, GA. My father was a visiting prof. at the Un.G. I couldn't understand why all blacks sat on the left side and all whites on the right side of the class, with an aisle in the middle.

2 / Our teacher was a wise black woman, Mrs. Thelma Smith. I was very attached to her. She placed the "weird kids", and that included me, on a third area of the class: the back. She's on the right side of the picture.
#blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

3 / When my parents told me we'd have to go back to Brazil, I was heart-broken. I cried and held on to Mrs. Smith, I didn't see her face, she just squeezed me for a few seconds, said "now go, girl" and pushed me away, walking away fast. #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

4 / Now I understand she didn't want me to see her cry. She was a strong woman and she believed in toughness. Never show weakness. I guess it was her last homework to me.
#blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

5 / In class, there was a little boy (black) who had a gift for drawing and we became friends preparing the school newspaper. A group of white girls called me and told me I wasn't supposed to be with him because I was white. #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

6 / They added "too white" (meaning blondish hair and green eyes). "Not like Teresa, who has dark hair and eyes." I was even more confused. I never asked Mrs. Smith about that. Or I did, but I don't remember. #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

7 / The day we arrived in the USA, there were news on the radio about the last KKK "statement murders". They killed two black men in a horrific manner. I don't remember what my parents explained. Brazilian racism is different. #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

8 / Not better: just different. Just look at what is happening now. Racism in Brazil also targets the NE populations, which are predominantly black+indigenous. #blacklivesmatter #whitepeopleconfessions

okayafrica.com/afro-brazilian…

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