“Differences can be a strength” – Condoleezza Rice
This quote by an African-American political figure of the United States is a summary of Teju Cole’s short essay titled ‘Brazilian Earth.’ In this essay, Cole writes about his experience in Brazil and how this experience made him feel like an African visiting a country in the Latin Americas. The essay is a good example of structurally bulging up a city in its physical appearance, but then deconstructing it in its cultural, social and political ideologies. While Cole manages to give us, the reader, a clear explanation of the streets and everyday life of the city of Rio de Janeiro; he also points to the larger issues of race and othering that has long prevailed in both North and South Americas.
The term ‘othering’ has come to mean different things in the contemporary issues, and it has not by so much as been mysterious as it has been negative. However, in this essay, we see the theme of ‘othering’ existing throughout the essay as a mystery element of the city. Just like the title of the collection of his essays suggests, Cole talks about the everyday lives of the city that relate to the known details of everyday life, all the while pin-pointing on the strangeness of certain behaviors of the public that can be categorized under ‘othering.’ Although he is determined to continue with his journey and not have any prejudice or far-fetched opinion from his first experience, he notices the ‘aggravating division.’ From this scene, we can understand the importance of experience and how it helps us to have an open-mind about the long-term prevailing global issues. He can choose to have an opinion about the city by not seeing anything else, or he can choose to have an opinion about the city by experiencing more of its streets, public, and culture. The former would be easy and put him under the safe umbrella of labeling the city as ‘other,’ the latter would require an effort to comprehend and understand the differences and distinctions that lie in the city and within the people, thus making them the mysterious attractive other. The former can be categorized under the title of the known thing, while the latter would be the stage category. Whichever he, and through him we, choose, the decision still underlines the idea that the idea of ‘other’ still exists in the city, whether in practice or the form of an ideology.
Cole also talks about a ‘hierarchy of color’ that exists within the Black community of the city. As Cole goes on to explain the socializing processes and the guidance of the public, we as the reader are surprised at the still existing issues of race in the 21st century. The fact that he ‘feels more welcome on the streets than in fine restaurants’ shows the level of distinction of a race with the city. The streets are the socializing area of the black community, and the excellent restaurants belong to the white people with money and wealth. The critical question to ask here would be: What is the situation of the Black community who have money? Unfortunately, we do not have much information about them from this essay; however, we do know that the middle class has to work two jobs to afford a living along with making their career dreams come true. The narrator meeting with the man selling African things is a good example. The man, who is an African, is a journalist trying to do his masters in Brazil and also selling items to earn a living. Despite meeting the African and learning about the issues of racism within the city, Cole still seems hopeful of the city and seems determined to have an open mind about the country. Albeit the contrary explanations of the treatment of the black Brazilians, he moves on into the city where he finally manages to find something he can relate to his home. Until this point we as the reader were walking within the realms of the strange things existing in the 21st century in one of the mega cities of the world. After this point, we come to the known category. We start to see why the author insists on continuing his journey: he relates to the place because of the inherits he sees from his ancestors. He considers the city to be a home, a position he can return to. However, this does not change the perception that we as the reader have from the author’s experience: we as the reader are discouraged from visiting the city because of its discrimination and distinction towards colored and more specifically awards black people.He is ‘at home and unhappy’ but he is still anticipating his return journey to Brazil. At this point, the reader can very well ask the question: Why, but as soon as we read the final paragraph of the essay, we understand the authors aim in writing a travel essay that is both critical and constructive of the city: he takes pleasure in the traveling part of his journey. He builds up the town in its beauty of being contracting by man, in its beautiful landscape and unforgettable views, but then he deconstructs our positive view of the town by relating the events that happen on the streets, and that can be very well be identified as racism, othering, ethnic discrimination. Throughout the essay, the author manages to confuse us with different feelings; we are not sure if we like or dislike, or if we want to or don’t want to visit the city of Rio de Janeiro. However, in the end, he manages to end on the positive feelings he got from his experience: he wants to return. This seems to suggest to us to have an open mind, no matter what we read or experience in a city, a novel, a book or even in an essay. By doing so, we may find differences and distinctions that can give us the strength to become who we indeed are, and that is humans first and then belonging to a particular race, ethnic, gender, etc. etc.