Francisco Everardo Oliveira Silva, who performs under the stage name Tiririca, is a well-known Brazilian man of many talents. Francisco currently represents São Paulo (a state in Brazil) in a political capacity.
In addition to his political accomplishments, he is an accomplished actor, comedian, singer and composer among many other things.
In 1997, Francisco authored and released a song by means of Sony Music called “Look at Her Hair”.
Last month, the Court of Rio de Janeiro ruled that the lyrics were racist. Some Brazilian authorities go even further, stating that portions of the song were directly offensive to African Americans.
Sony Music, who officially owns the copyright to the song, was ordered to pay R$1.2 million (in Brazilian reais) ($650, 000 American dollars) in punitive charges. The case has been pending since 2004, when the case was appealed due to the significance of the original decision where Sony was ordered to pay punitive damages of R$300 million (in Brazilian reais). As you can see, the dollar amount of the decision was greatly reduced in the latest ruling.
Note: If you’re easy offended, please don’t continue reading past this point. The title and lyrics of the song have been translated to English, since the 95% of our readers are from English speaking countries.
While I find this song incredibly offensive, it is not much different than the way some very popular American musicians speak about black women. Their comments are often overlooked. The other difference is in America these songs are often composed and performed by a black man.
Regardless, it is incredibly disappointing and if it’s not going to be tolerated in Brazil, then why should we tolerate it in America?
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About Kenneth Byrd
WOW! But as you stated, the American music performed by BLACK MEN is far worse than this and it’s accepted. None the less, it’s all disrespectful and ignorant.
You know what. I was completely prepared to write a detailed comment as to why this man and the Sony record company are complete donkeys behinds for composing and releasing this song. However, what would be the point? Its quite sad actually that someone could ever be this racist and ignorant. Look at her hair? Yes, your damn right look at her hair. It sure as hell is something to be noticed and appreciated. Look at her hair, it crowns the head of a strong black woman who dares to wear her hair naturally even though she has to live her life being insulted, looked down upon and possibly is deemed to be the lowest of the social strata. Look at her hair. Isnt it wonderful? Unique, defining, a part of who she is. Look at her hair. Its hair… a different texture but hair all the same just like any other race. Black woman, she is more than just her hair. She is a person. Someone who loves, hurts, bleeds when she’s cut, she FEELS for others but for someone to compose something to disgusting, so rude, so racist, so blunt and worst… so untrue questions the very characteristic that defines humanity and so as far as I see it, it makes this man less of an human… Our hair is beautiful and please if someone doesnt like it…well how lucky for them cause they’re sure as hell not required to. stay strong and God bless.
wow, all i have to say i’m envied everyday by my hair, yes i’m natural and one thing I can say is that i’m not stinky like a skunk. I can careless what someone has to say. some folks are just going to be ignorant regardless. I can say other races smell like wet dogs, a ton of nasty coffee or smell musky etc blah blah blah anybody smells if they don’t take a bath. How foolish it is. Different cultures use different products for the hair and body hmmm wonder how the person smells and the person who sung this foolishness. One thing i can say is that his inside stinks check your heart bruh and brain. Ignantfool.com
WTF!!! Cannot believe Sony music allowed this crap to be released.
Ok. I have no problem with the composer. He obviously has issues. However SONY allowed such lyrics to be produced and released now that’s sad.
It actually sounds funny to me. Badly put together, poor choice in lyrics, frankly sounds uneducated and so ridiculously stereotypical (like, a 1900′s stereotypical) that it is absurd to the point it is actually NOT offensive. The reason I say this is because it a.) makes no sense. b.) sounds like a 5 year old wrote it. c.) Is coming from a foreign man who lives in a country where countless individuals are considered “Black Brazilian” and have a hair texture similar to African Americans. This man clearly is off his rocker, don’t pay this any mind. Besides, Brazil is a strange place sometimes. Just look at the carnival…