In Brazil, racist Facebook comments are ending up on billboards near their homes

[Contrary1]

What do you think? Here in the US, there aren't enough billboards.


"Racist commenters beware: Your words might show up in your own backyard.

A new campaign in Brazil is plastering billboards with racist Facebook comments. The point is not to expose anyone but to educate people that their words have a real impact.

The campaign, "Virtual racism, real consequences," is using the location tag from Facebook posts to find where the offenders live. The group is then buying billboard space in their neighborhoods, but blurring out the names and photos of the commenters.

Behind the project is the Criola group, a nonprofit that works to defend the rights of black women in Brazil.

The campaign was prompted after Brazilian journalist Maria Júlia Coutinho was targeted by racist Facebook comments online. Coutinho, the first black weather forecaster on Brazilian prime-time television, corrected another anchor on air in July. When another news site praised her for getting the terminology correct, Facebook commenters responded with a torrent of comments against everything from her hair to her race..."

More http://finance.yahoo.com/news/peoples-racist-facebook-comments-ending-234400980.html

[Shandris]

1. Why people can't see how that backfires is beyond me.

But, whatever. As a species we've decided to aim for extinction instead of a future anyway.

[frogmarch]

2. It's too bad the faces and names

are blurred.

I like to see "Virtual racism, real consequences" billboards put up here in my town. Not many black people live here, but a lot of Native Americans do.

[linuxman]

3. Wait, so someone blurred the faces and names,

Essentially putting up a billboard with racist messages on it? Lol, who's idea was that?

[linuxman]

4. I don't much get the end goal, honestly.

Let's say someone was featured on one of these, name, face, and all.

It's not like they are going to have an epiphany and think, "how embarrassing! Now I suddenly don't hate black people!"

If the goal is to get people to conceal yet maintain racism, then bravo I suppose.

[Blue_Tires]

5. Brasil is wayyyy ahead of us...WAY ahead!