Student who graduated in a white gown is the target of offenses – 04/12/2024 – Balance
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Cynthia Luiza Ribeiro do Amaral, 41, graduated from the social service course at UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina) on the 4th. But one detail made her stand out among the other graduates: the color of her gown. While everyone wore black, she wore white.
The explanation for the different colored clothing was the religious period that the student was going through at the time of the graduation ceremony. Cynthia was introduced to Candomblé Ketu in November last year, shortly after presenting her TCC (course conclusion work) on combating violence against women and training in social work.
Because of her initiation into religion, she will have to comply with a precept that, among other issues, provides for the daily use of white clothing, including keeping her head covered with fabric of the same color for a year.
Cynthia says she is the daughter of Orixá Osumaré. “It’s an orisha which is characterized by the issue of cycles and transformations. He is represented by the rainbow and the snake, and was even honored by the Viradouro samba school”, he states.
Faced with the possibility of not participating in the graduation with her colleagues, as she could not give up the precept, the student approached the university’s president to find out what could be done. “The precept is something serious, something I committed to. I couldn’t be flexible with it.”
The vice-rector of UFSC, Joana Célia dos Passos, says that the student explained that graduation would take place exactly during the precept period. “She was the first person to make this request, but she still arrived very modestly, asking if she could wear a white dress to graduation.”
Instead of just authorizing its use, the university decided to make the white gown and provide it for Cynthia’s use. “Clothing is not the responsibility of the trainee, but of the institution. This gown will be given to the next student who is in the same situation”, explains the vice-rector.
The student remembers that it is the university’s obligation to respect all religions. “And she does that. There are processes that are already underway, such as Christians who cannot take entrance exams on Saturdays and I am super in favor.”
Cynthia says she could wear a white dress, but the university defined the gown based on the principle of equality. “It was not a question of representation of the people of axé, especially because I had other colleagues who graduated on the same day and who are also from African-based religions. The assumption was respect for the moment of the rite that I was experiencing, I even presented a statement from my mother of saint saying that I was on duty.“
It was not a question of representation of the Axé people, especially because I had other colleagues who graduated on the same day and who also belong to African-based religions. The assumption was respect for the moment of the rite that I was experiencing, I even presented a statement from my mother of saint saying that I was in precept
The university was guided by internal resolution number 175, which provides for the policy to combat institutional racism in its different forms of manifestation within the scope of UFSC. “Cynthia’s precept needed to be respected. So, based on this resolution, we also acted on religious racism”, says Joana Célia.
Religious racism
With the repercussion of her story in recent days, Cynthia says she began to receive insults online. “Some people have been extremely aggressive, I even received a private message and blocked them, I’ve already received a threat on WhatsApp and I blocked them. People don’t know that racism is religious and a crime, but they need to be aware that this discrimination, this demonization of religion can lead to deaths .”
The social worker reports that, since graduation day, she has avoided leaving the house alone. “I just left to do a competitive exam, with my father and my son, and came back home.”
Cynthia says that she had already faced prejudice because of her religion before studying at UFSC.
“Axé people have a tendency to hide, as we have a religion that has been historically persecuted since the colonial period and which actually causes crimes against Axé people. So we are very discreet in our manifestation, although this is slowly changing. “
For her, people need to know how to report it. “The Public Prosecutor’s Office, when it accepts the complaint, takes the lead in the action and protects the victim. The people of Axé are providing themselves with this information so that there are no religious wars. Educational campaigns are necessary.”
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