José Fonseca Fernandes
On one side were those who supported Benfica and, therefore, wanted to name him Eusébio, a unique figure in the history of the Reds and national football. On the other, those who preferred Sporting, and insisted on calling him Jordão, in the words of an illustrious Leo, also famous in the corner team. When this tie between rivals from Lisbon seemed impossible to break, Brazil entered the field and resolved it. “Someone suggested: he has hair similar to Pelé. Stay Pelé.”
Thus, between street football plays, the nickname that has accompanied Miguel Cardoso’s identity since he was 10 years old was born. Today at 39, it is outside the four lines, on an anti-racist intervention front, that this week’s guest of O Tal Podcast leaves his signature.
José Fonseca Fernandes
Executive director of Black Europeans, an initiative that last September came under attack, in the crosshairs of a disinformation campaignMiguel explains, in this conversation, the importance of combating racism.
“If we put aside our commitment to anti-racism, what were once ghosts and are now people will gain more strength”, he warns, determined to safeguard the future of the next generations.
“The only way for everyone to have a better life is for each of us to make a significant contribution to this anti-racist fight.”
The commitment, Pelé emphasizes, is reinforced through fatherhood: “I find hope in my son. I look at him and see the strength of wanting to continue and build a better society.”
The inspiration for change is activated not only from parental care, but also from a accumulation of microaggressions. “When you are born in a country, you swallow the history, the culture, and it was in this sense that I learned to love Portugal. But the country shows that it doesn’t like me, whether through individual people or through public entities.”
José Fonseca Fernandes
One of the examples of this unrequited love is very present in Miguel’s memories, who, in this conversation with Georgina Angélica and Paula Cardoso, recalls how he was deprived of the possibility of renting an apartment.
“I spoke on the phone with the owner of the house, he didn’t understand my color. When I showed up, basically there was one person saying: I’m not going to rent to you because of your skin color.”
The experience is far from being an isolated case, notes Pelé, who explains how he found crying as a means of liberation. “I realized that I had to cry, because I couldn’t take this anger out on anyone, I couldn’t take my experience and blame someone. Society was structured this way, and I have to learn to deal with racism.”
José Fonseca Fernandes
Despite successive racial clashes, the real estate manager guarantees that he has no resentment. “I don’t have any grudge or hatred towards the country, but I don’t love Portugal”, he says, insisting on the importance of reciprocity. “I was thrilled with the national team. I even said: I know the Portuguese anthem, but not the Cape Verdean anthem. But I learned that this love was not reciprocal”
In other life lessons, Georgina Angélica and Paula Cardoso’s guest highlights the lessons of paternal absence.
“I blamed my mother for not having a father present. Then I realized that he didn’t want to be in my life. And I started to question myself: why didn’t he care about me?”
Listen to this episode of O Tal Podcast here.
José Fonseca Fernandes
Tal Podcast is a weekly podcast dedicated to interpersonal relationships and human affection. Through in-depth conversations with notable guests, the podcast reveals an original narrative and opens the doors to an international community of reflection and interest.
A pioneer in black and Afro-descendant culture in Portugal, it is a space where all lives fit, emotionally linked by experiences of trials and stories of humanization.
In long unscripted conversations, Georgina Angélica and Paula Cardoso present special guests, in new episodes, every Thursday on the Expresso, SIC and SIC Notícias websites or any podcast platform.
Tiago Pereira Santos with Nuno Fox
Georgina Angelica is a specialist in Education and Social Intervention. She works as an educator, trainer and speaker, with more than 20 years of experience in Portugal, England and Angola.
Paula Cardoso is the founder of the network Afrolink and author of the children’s book series ‘Força Africana’. She is also the presenter of the TV program “Rumos”, broadcast on RTP África.
Listen to more episodes of O Tal Podcast here:
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