World Economic Forum's Flickr Photostream/Creative Commons

Brazilian President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva made a discomforting comment during a visit by British PM Gordon Brown yesterday.  While speaking to the press while standing along side Brown in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, Lula (as he’s affectionately known) said, “This crisis was caused by no black man or woman or by no indigenous person or by no poor person.”. He continued, “This crisis was fostered and boosted by irrational behavior of some people that are white, blue-eyed. Before the crisis they looked like they knew everything about economics, and they have demonstrated they know nothing about economics.”

I have, from what I do know of Brazil, generally been an admirer of President Da Silva during his time in office, and certainly don’t wish to smear him with one single comment.  But talk like this is dangerous.  For starters, this is not the 1950’s.  The financial industries in New York and London responsible for the credit crisis are amongst some of the most diverse white collar businesses in the world, drawing from a vast pool of talent all over the globe.  But secondly, equating the world’s financial problems with one ethnic group of people is inappropriate and wrong.  I don’t know what divisive political games the Brazilian President wishes to play by speaking this way, but I would hope he would be more thoughtful in the future.  You can takepart in promoting diversity and equality by checking out the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equality.

LINKS:

CNBC: Brazil President Blames “White People” for Crisis

Financial Times: Brazil President bames white people for crisis

CNN: British Prime Minister in Brazil for Economy talks