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Billionaires Star Rises as She Takes Bold Stance on Racism in Brazil
Luiza Trajano turned a small family store into a retail giant. Now, a company policy limiting its executive training program to Black applicants is drawing praise, outrage and much soul-searching.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/world/americas/luiza-trajano-brazil-magalu-racism.html
SÃO PAULO, Brazil It was a casual conversation that led Luiza Trajano, one of Brazils wealthiest women, to ponder her countrys racism, to recognize her part in it and to do something about it.
A few years back, she said, she had heard a young, accomplished Black businesswoman mention that she never attended happy hours with colleagues unless her boss explicitly asked her to join. Years of feeling the rejection that many Black Brazilians experience in predominantly white settings had taught her to seek clear invitations, the woman explained.
Ms. Trajano, who is white, felt a pang of sadness. Then an uncomfortable thought crossed her mind.
At my birthday parties, there arent any Black women, Ms. Trajano remembered thinking. Thats structural racism that, in my case, is not born out of rejection, but out of failing to seek them out.
That moment of introspection for Ms. Trajano, who had turned a small family business into a retail behemoth, helped plant the seeds for a bold corporate affirmative action initiative, which has drawn praise, outrage and plenty of soul searching in Brazil.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,501 posts)thoughts to offer:
There has been fervent speculation online that Ms. Trajano could be a wild card in this years presidential elections, perhaps as a running mate of Mr. da Silva, the front-runner in the race. While she has categorically ruled out playing such a role, its clear Mr. Bolsonaro has come to see her as a threat to his re-election prospects.
In November, he seemed to relish that the companys stock price had fallen in recent months amid speculation of a political partnership between Mr. da Silva and Ms. Trajano, whom the president referred to as a socialist.
Later that day, when Ms. Trajano was asked about the presidents remark, she said she didnt find the label offensive.
I think social inequality must be confronted, she said. If thats being a socialist, then Im a socialist.