The Take

Can Portugal confront its racist history?

More than 500 years after launching the transatlantic slave trade, Portugal still often celebrates its colonial past.

Protesters hold signs reading, 'The best weapon against racism is education' and 'The soul has no colour' during a demonstration against racism and fascism in Lisbon in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement on June 6, 2020 [Photo by Patricia De Melo Moreire/AFP]

Portugal’s antiracist movement had its largest protest in recent memory after George Floyd was killed by US police. The protest wasn’t only about an injustice an ocean away, but part of an ongoing struggle in a country that looks back fondly on its colonial past. What’s behind Portugal’s rosy view of history, and how does that affect Black activists fighting for their rights today?

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In this episode:

Cristina Roldão, a sociologist and activist in Portugal, and Helena Vicente, a researcher and activist with Grupo EduCAR.

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The team:

Negin Owliaei produced this episode with Ney Alvarez, Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, Amy Walters and Malika Bilal.

Alex Roldan is The Take’s sound designer. Natalia Aldana is the engagement producer. Stacey Samuel is The Take’s executive producer, and Graelyn Brashear is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Source: Al Jazeera