Sony Music, the distributor of the song, has been ordered to pay a retroactive sum (since 1997) of 1.2 million Brazilian reais, which equals about $650k in U.S. dollars. Ironically, Tiririca, who is half black was not charged in the lawsuit brought to the court system in Rio de Janeiro by 10 non-governmental organizations that fight against racism. Those organizations included: Center of Articulation of Marginalized Populations, Research Institute of Black Cultures, Union Group of Black Consciousness, Palmares Institute of Human Rights and Criola Organization of Black Women.
The single sold about 250,000 copies when it was released in 1996 and the courts deemed it to be a racist song; now Sony will pay the price. I'm not sure which is more appalling and grotesque, the person who wrote the song, the half black man who sung or Sony who distributed it. Tiririca, who grew up poor, and was known for first being a clown (yes, he joined the circus as a young boy), then created humorous spots about Brazilian's political system, was elected as Sao Paolo's congressman and still serves in office. Perhaps that has something to do with why he was blameless. And we thought we had identity problems.
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