Brasília - The Brazilian Racial Atlas, launched yesterday (01), demonstrates that racial inequality still exists in the country. Some progress was detected in the indices of child labor. The number of black youngsters who work in the 10-14 age group fell 40%. But blacks continue to form the majority of the poor and destitute population, 65% and 70%, respectively. The deficient conditions of nutrition and housing have a direct effect on expectant mothers and babies. Upon birth, the odds that a black child will not survive his or her first year are 66% greater.

"These data reflect the maintenance of inequality. One notes that seven of every ten very poor people in this country are blacks or mulattoes. There has been a constancy over time," laments José Carlos Libanio, Human Development coordinator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Besides forming the majority of the poor and destitute, blacks in Brazil also continue to face greater difficulty when it comes to health care. The percentage of the population that had been able to receive medical attention in the two weeks preceding the study was greater among whites (83.6%) than blacks (69.7%).

The number of blacks and mulattoes who have never been to see a dentist is nearly double the percentage found among whites. The researchers discovered a similar disparity when it comes to health plans. The number of whites with such plans is 2.2 times greater than among blacks.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Juliana Cézar
Translator: David Silberstein
12/02/2004