Brasília, November 25, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - As part of commemorations of National Black Consciousness Week, a survey has been released which shows that prejudice and poverty do result in Brazilians of African descent getting lower-paying jobs, or getting less employment, when compared with whites. Unemployment among Brazilian Blacks, at 23%, is higher than the national average. There are also fewer Blacks in executive positions (only 12.7% in Brasilia (where the federal government actively promotes equality), and 4.4% in São Paulo).

The survey was conducted by the labor union-linked Department of Statistics and Socio-Economic Studies (Dieese) of São Paulo. Dieese sociologist, Graça Ohana, says that the only way to correct the situation is through a quota system, because Blacks do not have the same educational opportunities. Ohana called salary differences the most visible and indisputable sign of racism in the Brazilian workplace. (AB)