Text by Joe Ribeiro, Helena Meireles and Indy Lopes
Preto no Metal collective , which many now know and others are discovering for the first time, initially emerged as a photographic project. The theme was Black representation in the rock/metal scene of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. With the photography completed, the next step was to showcase the work, and using a punk, DIY approach, the photographs were displayed.
After creating the social media accounts and sharing the photos online, its creators, Lohy , Indy, and Dênis , realized that it was much more than just a photo shoot – it's worth remembering that everyone involved wasn't just sporadically connected to the scene; everyone involved, from photographer to subjects, has always had and continues to have a very strong connection to the local scene in the state.
Thus, with a project that could have been just that, it raised the question that is now the collective's strength: in a musical style that claims to be so egalitarian, representative, open to differences, and most importantly, inclusive, why, even being a child of the blues, do Black artists and bands end up having so little visibility?
Okay! I'm sure that by this point in the text many have already turned their noses up, and as usual someone has probably already said: "It's all just whining.".
The importance of representation and of individuals being in a space that is often not occupied by someone of the same race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is only understood by those who share the feeling of exclusion.
Unfortunately, we can't force them to accept us, but we'll be here with our feet firmly planted.
We generally say that the world is full of people who proudly proclaim that we are all equal and that there is room for everyone, but this is a grave misconception. The power of representation and of seeing oneself in a prominent position, whether in music, film, or theater, is reserved for white people, and we are part of something much bigger that has come to change that. We will no longer accept this attitude.
Black in Metal didn't emerge to diminish or disqualify the history of renowned white bands and artists. Our strength lies in the need for representation in the scene; what we do is keep alive the history of rock's beginnings, where Black people are the creators of the style, but who, due to pure prejudice, were relegated to the background, replaced by others so they could be accepted by a white and racist society. Unfortunately, rock aesthetics are seen as belonging to white people, but this is changing, and there is now a reclaiming of origins where Rosetta Tharpe is increasingly recognized as the mother of rock. Rock is feminine, Black, and gay.
Follow Preto no Metal on social media:
Website: https://www.pretonometal.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pretonometal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretonometal_coletivolivre/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretonometal9056
Link to the latest news about Preto no Metal in the media: G1 RS
