Thais Leitão Reporter Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – It is estimated that the present population of Cidade de Deus is 40,000. The first houses there were built in the 1960s when Rio authorities began moving slum dwellers out of more than 50 high-end locations (“zona sul”) and putting them into “projects.” Ironically, other high-end neighborhoods (Barra de Tijuca, for example), have now crept up next to Cidade de Deus as a result of urban sprawl.

The film, “Cidade de Deus (2002),” which was nominated for four Oscars, showed what had happened to the slum removal project: Cidade de Deus had become a nightmare landscape of organized crime and drugs, danger and violence. It had some of the lowest social well-being indicators in Rio along the highest crime rates.

In 2009, Rio authorities made it the target of a Police Pacification Unit (UPP) operation. Armed police invaded the slum, expelling the drug lords (something that had happened a thousand times before in Rio), But this time, as part of the ambitious UPP program, the police not only stayed, other government civil servants arrived to offer regular public services the community had just never had (or, in some cases, that the drug lords provided).

João Neves is the president of the Community Union Association (“Associação de Moradores União Comunitária”) in Cidade de Deus and he says that if Obama comes he has to take a walk around the place.

“Everybody agrees on this. If Obama comes he must walk around a little and get to know some of the community. There are a lot of people prepared to walk along with him. Besides that, people are painting, cleaning things up, filling up holes, fixing up things in general, getting ready for the visit,” said Neves, adding that besides the joy of receiving an international authority, it is a chance for Cidade de Deus to show the world a different image, different from the one shown in the film.

Neves pointed out that although the film was very successful and won a lot of prizes, many inhabitants complained of the stigma of being portrayed worldwide as a violent and dangerous community. The result, said Neves, was what he called “a wave of prejudice and discrimination.”

The Obama visit to Cidade de Deus ended a little after noon today. The president, his wife and two daughters, watched a presentation of a percussion band playing Brazilian regional rhythms (maracatu and samba), along with some funk. Finally, there was a presentation of capoeira (which is also performed to music). As the band played, youngsters (some as young as seven), who are members of a local Youth Foundation (“Fundação para a Infancia e Adolescencia - FIA”) danced and whirled. For someone who has never seen one of these performances, it can be very impressive. Obama seemed to be so impressed, especially by the very young “capoeiristas,” that he rubbed his head a number of times in amazement.

As he left the FIA after the presentation, Obama surprised everybody by kicking a soccer ball around with some of the kids. He made a try at soccer ball keep ups (juggling the ball, keeping it in the air, without using one’s hands). Obama ended his brief soccer game with a good hard shot and walked out of the building for a short stroll down the street (Rua Israel), waving and throwing kisses to onlookers.

Obama was in Cidade de Deus for less than half an hour. A multitude gathered on balconies and rooftops near the FIA to see the American president.

One resident who lives in front of the FIA said his family would remember today always. “We have been waiting since 7:00 am. I saw everything from upstairs. Saw him when he came out and said, ‘Bye-bye.’ My wife took pictures that we will save forever,” he said.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English – content modified
Link - Cidade de Deus se prepara para receber visita de Obama
Link - Em visita à Cidade de Deus, Obama anda pelas ruas e faz embaixadinhas