Governor removes Paulo Freire’s name from subway station – 03/17/2023 – Sou Ciência

Paulo Freire has been constantly attacked by Bolsonarists in recent years, on all fronts, from all sides – and this week Paulo Freire returns to the news. A Metro station in São Paulo, planned since 2009 and to be built on Avenida Educador Paulo Freire (and which would therefore receive its name), had its name changed in an unprecedented way and right at the beginning of the Tarcísio de Freitas Government to give way to one of the darkest pioneers in São Paulo, Fernão Dias (after whom the SP-BH road is named, which starts 2 km from the place). The decision does not seem to have been technical, but political and encourages ethos of ideological war that moves Bolsonarism, from which the governor seemed to distance himself.

There are countless attacks by the extreme right against Paulo Freire, who elected him as one of their main enemies. The educator from Pernambuco was repeatedly accused of being “responsible for the failure of education in Brazil”; former Minister Abraham Weintraub intended to demolish the monument in his honor in front of the MEC; the Brasil Paralelo audiovisual propaganda machine devoted a trilogy and countless videos to attacking him; a deputy from the PSL (then Bolsonaro’s party) sent a Bill in 2019 so that Paulo Freire would no longer be the patron of education; another PSL deputy proposed in his place the catechist Padre Anchieta; on its centenary, in 2021, Paulo Freire was bombarded in extremist networks – the ridiculous businessman Luciano Hang (owner of the Havan chain) posted a meme saying that Havaianas did more for Brazilian education (in the slippers of parents on their children) than the educator ; and the examples would be countless.

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas had been praised for his posture of dialogue and non-polarity with the Lula Government, since January 8th and after the tragedy on the north coast. He was even considered reasonable, having taken important steps in overcoming extremism and policywhich is what we need most now. Therefore, it surprised the news of the change of name of the Metro Station.

The “technical” justification given would have been a Metro opinion survey with future users to confirm the name (but it was not disclosed, we do not know the date, methodology, sample, etc.). There are dozens of stations in projects and works in São Paulo, but only this one, two months into the Governor’s term, will have its name changed – an unprecedented and controversial fact. The station is named after Paulo Freire due to its street (a 2 km long avenue on the border between São Paulo and Guarulhos). In 2002 the avenue, which was an access lane to the Fernão Dias Highway, was named Paulo Freire by municipal decree. Since the first studies of the Metro company, the name Paulo Freire has been defined. It appears in the project at least since the 2009 Environmental Impact Report (then as the White Line of the Metro – Vila Prudente-Dutra) and in the Station Project by the Fernandes office/associated architects.

The rename in honor of Bandeirante Fernão Dias (1608-1681) is equally revealing. The so-called “Hunter of emeralds” (as consecrated by Olavo Bilac in his Epopeia Sertanista) can also be considered “The Assassin Bandeirante”, in the expression of Eduardo Bueno. As Bueno explains, Fernão Dias was a wealthy landowner and patron of 17th-century São Paulo, when he sponsored the construction of the São Bento Monastery (where he would later be buried). He had a glittering career and fortune thanks to the relentless hunting and enslavement of indigenous people. Fernão Dias even brought 5,000 enslaved and tied people to São Paulo at once. He even went so far as to hang his son, considering him the leader of a riot that tried to free enslaved people. And, in fact, Fernão Dias never found emeralds, despite having died with a handful of tourmalines (semi-precious) thinking they were the fabulous green stones.

The change of names between the educator Paulo Freire and the pioneer Fernão Dias may have underlying symbolic, historical and political reasons, which need to be understood. Why make this change now? We are at a critical moment, when the news abounds with accusations against Bolsonaro and the decision to change his name encourages Bolsonarist networks.

The hybrid, cultural and political war did not dissipate into thin air after January 8th. We need less polarization actions and more conciliation. Removing Paulo Freire’s name could stir up disputes that go far beyond electoral issues. The ideal would be to discuss changing the name based on broad public consultations, especially in cases like this, which could even lead to changing the name of Rodovia Fernão Dias, due to its murderous past.

Incidentally, the trail the road follows was not opened or discovered by the bandeirantes, but by indigenous peoples and later followed by the Jesuits. Bandeirantes traveled through it in search of gold, but also to capture, enslave or kill the indigenous communities that circulated through it. Having baptized this path with the name of Fernão Dias is yet another expropriation and erasure of knowledge, territories and histories of the original peoples, which can be recovered and honored. The highway is federal, it would be up to the Lula Government to rename it. Haddad, when mayor of São Paulo, renamed the famous Minhocão, then elevated dictator Costa e Silva, to elevated President João Goulart. Here’s the tip.

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