By: Juliana and Frederico
Racial oppression has long been a global issue for the past centuries, dating back to the 1500s when black Africans were sold as slaves for being inferior to the Europeans. After more than 500 years, there have been a number of instances of racism that are rooted in traditional society. Both Edson Arantes Do Nascimento and Glória Maria were part of the war against inequality, overcoming all odds that society imposes. Regrettably, cancer took the best of them over the years, leaving their history of struggle and success on earth.
Edson Arantes Do Nascimento also known as Pelé the king of soccer, was born on 3 October 1940. He was given the moniker “Pelé” when he was still a little child. His friends gave him the nickname because they thought he resembled a goalkeeper by the name of Bilé from Brazil, merging their last names. He had a huge influence on his side, which was that his father was a great soccer player. Throughout his upbringing, he was pretty impoverished; even as a youngster, he helped provide money for his impoverished family by polishing shoes. He was incredibly dedicated and skilled, and he showed a strong interest in football, eventually joining a local little league team. All of this was more than enough for him, however, a major chance soon presented itself to him. Waldemar de Brito, a great player, watched him play when he was just 11 years old and introduced him to the much-loved Santos. Brito would constantly push and inspire Pele, proclaiming him to be the best soccer player in the world. Until then, he didn’t have much public backing, but after a few years, he went to play for Corinthians, and that’s when everything changed. The world began to stand up for him, when he scored six historic goals to lead the Brazilian National Team to victory in the 1958 World Cup. Brazil won its first World Cup, and everyone became enamored with it. With that countless great opportunities started knocking on his door. Pele was famous for his ball handling, quickness, and goal-scoring abilities. He was a prolific goal scorer and a skilled playmaker who could score in a variety of ways. He was also praised for his sportsmanship and willingness to collaborate with others. Anyone who reads Pele’s biography will only witness a sequence of success stories, with spectacular contributions from the player himself. It all seems so easy, right? But people don’t even imagine how much Pele endured; painful wounds, prejudice, and so on. Throughout his career, Pelé encountered various instances of racism, such as when he began to be referred to as “Gasolina” because of the hue of his skin. Many also did not trust in his ability due to his skin color, stating that he would never be successful and that he would forever be a “Criolo”. He describes how he defied everyone by becoming the King of Football, and how he encouraged individuals of the same hue as him. Imagine how strong he was to put aside all the inhuman things he heard, and keep fighting. “I believed that that signified hope for Africans, like the black guy who would manage to flourish in the world,” Pele once stated. Pelé demonstrated that his skin color did not limit his ability and that history and achievement can only be achieved with effort, regardless of who you are. It has been stated that history is written by the winners, those like Pelé who have overcome adversity to make a difference. Soccer is attributed with gaining popularity in South America and around the world thanks to Pele, whose accomplishments on the field made the game more accessible. He was a remarkable player, and due to his intelligence and strength, it appeared as though he performed magic. Unluckily, the world lost the King of soccer when Pele passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82, from multiple organ failure, a side effect of colon cancer.
Glória Maria wasn’t only a journalist, she was a pioneer in the industry. Having visited over 160 countries she explored, lived, and experienced many cultures to report to national TV. Being the first black woman to appear on live national television, she inspired many women to follow her as an inspiration. It is easy to say that she lived her life to the fullest, meeting both Michael Jackson and Madonna, covering wars, the terrorist invasion in the Brazilian embassy in Peru(1996), the Atlanta Olympics(1996), and the world cup in France(1998). Her statement about her job:
“I’m a person moved by curiosity. If I stop to think rationally, I won’t do anything. I have to lose my rationality to go, let curiosity and fear take me, because that’s when I can do anything”
Her early childhood showed her promising career already, she learned English, French, and Latin in her early stages. She also won every writing contest to ever take place at her school. But racism was a constant fight of hers, having suffered racism from the ex-president of Brazil, João Figueiredo, who in an interview was asked to repeat himself, but instead of compelling, refused. He was later seen telling security, “Don’t let that neguinha(little negro) get close to me”. But she remained strong and didn’t let that impede her from becoming one of the most outstanding journalists in Brazil’s history.
Unfortunately, in 2019, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and soon started the successful immunotherapeutic treatment. But not long after, the cancerous cells had divided into her brain, and yet another successful fight against cancer was completed. However, cancer continued spreading through her body, and in the second half of 2022 the treatment stopped having an effect on her body, and she passed on on the 2nd of February, 2023.
Gloria ‘s original statement:“Eu sou uma pessoa movida pela curiosidade e pelo susto. Se eu parar para pensar racionalmente, não faço nada. Tenho que perder a racionalidade para ir, deixar a curiosidade e o medo me levarem, que aí eu faço qualquer coisa”
No number can measure the impact these figures had on black history and in the fight against racism. But one thing is certain both Glória Maria and Pelé may be gone, but their influence will last for generations to come. Although both have been victims of racism, they managed to thrive among the oppression, to rise to the level they did. Their deserved rest has finally come, and may their efforts against racism not be in vain.
EAC PRESS 