The Revolution is Coming - 1964

We heard of the unrest in the State of Minas Gerais.

Mothers laid down their bodies in front of the tanks. This was their statement of resistance against an out and out bloody Revolution.  The revolutionary history of Brazil settled by the Portuguese was different than the rest of South America which was very sanguine.

We opened the health post and community center in the Linha de Arara. The location of this favela was isolated from the larger favelas where we lived. It was called the Linha because it was on the train line.  Evenings I was there showing Disney movies, teaching Portuguese, or for community meetings.

One evening two North Americans appeared at the Health Post. I just happened to be there. One reminded me of Peter Lorre and the other, a brown Sydney Greenstreet.  The Favela leader and I listened with some of the other men to their presentation.  The smaller one was the front man and the other, his body guard for the Oxford Group.  It was so strange. They told these poor favelado leaders, who couldn't read and write Portuguese, about the Oxford University in America on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. And Boeing would pay their way. Coming to America and going to an island way up north didn't make any sense for poor uneducated Brazilians!  Why here in a nowhere favela?  We were pleasant but sent them on their way.  This stuck in my mind for many years.

The revolution was coming. The community center was closed out of downright meanness because I was not permitted to teach Portuguese by the county.  The revolution was here.  Karen and I decided to stay with our people where we lived in Tuiti. We got a call from the Embassy to bring our passports and come down town Rio to the Hotel Florida.

 Revolution

Gilberto took a bus from town to escort both households  on Tuiti down town. He led us down our hill past where the prisoners were being kept.  We took the bus down town.  Tanks were lined up with dead bodies around them. We were very anxious. When we got near the center of Rio, Revolution is over!

Carlos Lacerda and his party won a second term as Governor for State of Rio.  The Presidency of Brazil didn't fall into the hands of the Socialist, Joan Goulart for President   feared by the US.  The atmosphere changed from a revolution to a campaign victory. As we got near the Hotel Florida we watched with mixed feelings the Communist Student Center being burned.

We learned later that a USN Carrier was sitting out in Guanabara Bay should the Revolution have turned against the United States and the US Embassy in Rio de Janeiro. An airlift of all US Embassy and Peace Corps workers was a default option.

By the Grace of God, there was no interference because we had Peace Corps volunteers stationed in the Northeastern sector that were without transportation and would have made good hostages.

We returned to our homes and the prisoners were released and went back to work the next day. 

 Cidade Maravilhosa. Rio de Janeiro.

 Carole James