The Hustle
Capoeira is a centuries old Afro-Brazilian martial art and it’s also as fruity as hell. In Kansas City, there is a group of Capoeira dancers who perform at different local events and make me uncomfortable. It’s not that I don’t like dancing; I’m just as skilled at doing the “Fat Man Swivel” to a 50 Cent song as anybody else, but something about this group makes me want to shake my booty into the distance.
Yeah, yeah you can tell me about all the great history and culture that go into the art form but it seems like something a few stoned college kids got conned into . . . like going to a Phish concert, voting Democrat or dating an Asian person. Additionally, I’m sure it takes quite a bit of physical strength, endurance and coordination but so does talking to your grandmother while trying to participate in online poker. Still, I’ve never played to a crowd. (Coincidentally, do you have any idea how many times I’ve nearly called my grandmother a “filthy, cocksucking mother of a whore” after losing a hand? It takes skill to multi-task my friend.)
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that these local frolicking hose bags and their dead art form reek of poserdom. Sure, everybody is allowed a hobby but co-opting a dance born out of hundreds of years of struggle is about as offensive as my American flag thong; which fits very well, by the way. And if recent photos I've seen of the group are correct, I see only a couple of members of the group who share the same lineage of the originators of the dance/martial art/mating ritual/whatever. Basically, watching Capoeira dancers brings about the same feeling I get when encountering the pale skinned “homies” at Overland Park Mall with their hats tilted to the side, looking like they robbed the wardrobe truck on the set of the latest Ludacris video. Two words: Culture Vultures.
Initially, I had some concerns about writing this but then I thought if any of the Capoeira dancers wanted to kick my ass they would have to wait for the drummers to get in place and all their buddies to start hopping around and twirling in unison. By then, I’d be long gone.
posted by Tony Permalink
Oh, don't worry, we learned how to fight without music. And if you know ANYTHING about Brazilian culture is that they are not divided up by color like we are in America. I am black, and I really mean black, dark skinned, from the city, talk like a "real nigga". I have no problem, and neither do the Brazilians, with having "white" people participate. There are MANY "white" brazilian mestres. So, if I knew what you looked like, trust me...I'd kick your ass a cappella. For my black cousins in Brazil, and for my capoeiristas everywhere. I can't stand ignorant ass people like you. It's mind sets like yours, the "American way" is the right and only right way, that has our country the way it is. Ignant bastard...and yes I mean IGNANT!
capoeira is one of many avenues to understanding conflict outside of black/white divides. Its ironic (but not excused) that an outside observer like this jerk thinks capoeirastas engage in capoeira in order to co-opt black culture. Tranquilo is right on target in saying that the white/black racial divide is external to capoeira. Inside capoeira, we play a game of tense and blurred division. We dance, while fighting. We sing, while learning. We balance precarily on our heads and hands, mixing weakness with strength. Now open your dull, cash-culture eyes and see a stumbling, beautiful, mortal game: a lot like life.
"TKC is a joke/humor blog. Do not read this page unless you have a sense of humor and a good looking mother."
Ignant is not reading the whole page before posting preachy, self-righteous comments. A little too eager to mount the pulpit, aren't we?
"TKC is a joke/humor blog. Do not read this page unless you have a sense of humor and a good looking mother."
Ignant is not reading the whole page before posting preachy, self-righteous comments. A little too eager to mount the pulpit, aren't we?
ah yes... the struggle for man-to-man loving africans in the amazon to express their affection in song and rythmic dance... i've heard of it. it feels wonderful...
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