Photo: Rodrigo Fuzar

Joseph Junior, author and coordinator of one of the major social institutions / culture of Brazil - Afro Reggae - conversation with exclusive and uncut with the Evoke on the role of aggregating and transforming art and culture as tools in the fight for social justice.

1) Junior, you managed to overcome the difficulties of life and the environment where he grew up. In his career, which was the worst and the best time for you?

1) Junior, You Were Able to Overcome the Difficulties Both from life and from the environment where Were you raised. In this specific trajectory of yours, what Were the worst and the best moments for you?

Junior: My training was all on the street. I saw people of good and evil being killed and lost / lose (today) people I liked / like. Can not define the worst and best moment of my life. I am an admirer of Siva (Hindu deity) and learned that many times the destruction is related to transformation and change. Do not get emotional over the things that I particularly realize directly. Am moved more by what they see done by others. I am proud of many people who are within the AfroReggae.

Junior: I was raised on the streets. I've seen good and bad people dying and I lost (still lose) People that I liked and People that I sill like. I can not define the worst moment of my life. I worship Shiva (Hindu deity) and I've Learned That in destruction is many times related to transformation and change. I no longer get touched by Things That I Achieve directly for myself. When I please get more good stuff I see being wellness done to other people. I am very proud of many people inside AfroReggae.

2) How do you see internet cafes in the suburbs? They are good allies for education or should be restricted to those over age?

2) How do you see the universe LAN House in the suburbs / slums? They are a good ally for education, or They must be restricted to users of legal age only?

Junior: Nothing that includes more of the Internet cafes. Access is extremely democratic. Funny sometimes speak of inclusion by a pathway that is not legalized or often even has a certain air "pirate" since many of these establishments use GatoNet! There is no way restrict an age. It is very hard! My daughters (9 and 7 years) know how to use piece of equipment we have at home and some sites better than I and my wife.

Junior: LAN Houses have a great power of inclusion. Access is extremely Democratic. It is funny to speak of inclusion, through Sometimes one mean that is legalized or not has many times in Certain air of 'piracy', since many of These LAN Houses resort to GatoNet (illegal / clandestine connection)! You can not control a Certain Age range. That is very hard! My daughters (9 and 7 years old) know how to use part of the equipment That we have at home, and They know how to interact even better than myself and my wife in some websites.

3) The AfroReggae grown and won several awards. What are your current difficulties?

3) Substantially AfroReggae has grown and has Been Awarded Several prizes. What are your current Difficulties?

Junior: Mediating conflicts is still something that requires effort, since you often put your life at risk. The great thing is that Rio is less at war (do not know until when). Today we have a state government that talks with the council and the federation. We experienced this only for 2 years. I am 42 and had never experienced this experience. The Rio has always clashed with everyone. Since Brizola took in 83 always been an isolated state.

Junior: Conflict mediation is Something That still requires a great effort, since many times you put in your own life at risk. The Good Thing Is That River is less Becoming Involved in this war (Until When we do not know). Currently We have a state government That Keeps dialogs with the municipality and the federation. We are Experiencing this for only two years. I am 42 years old and have never seen before That. Rio has always taken an aggressive posture. Since Brizola took over in 1983, we Became an isolated state.

4) What is the main weapon of AfroReggae to overcome violence and drugs?

4) What's AfroReggae's main resource against violence and drugs?

Junior: Understanding the universe we deal with. Using the same techniques and methods that take the young for the crime to bring it to the side BLACK FORCE (in which case the BLACK side is the good side as it should have been). We work in the slums and prisons of Brazil most feared and we know our role aggregator and transformer. We did not invent the WHEEL. Much was already there in the face! But the people did not see or would not see. We made collages of good experiences and start doing what we believed was right. We focus on strengthening self-esteem and culture and social development. Today we talk a lot of the entrepreneurial side and economical, but has always been part of our focus and strategy.

Junior: Understanding the universe we're in. Using the same techniques and methods carry That the youth to the criminal life to bring Them back to the real side of life. We work at the most Feared slums and prisons of Brazil and we know our role of aggregation and transformation. We did not invent the wheel. A lot of stuff was Already there! But the Were people not seeing what They did not want to see. We absorbed our own good and started to Experiences of what we Believed to be right. We Focused on strengthening self-esteem and on the culture of social development. Currently we are discussing a lot about the entrepreneur, Economic side of things, but this has always Been part of our focus and strategy.

5) How does being responsible for an institution like the AfroReggae?

5) How is it to be Responsible for AfroReggae?

Junior: We have 74 projects, an NGO, OSCIP 1 and 2 companies. We as a social enterprise, where the "profits" generated is reinvested and leveraged. AfroReggae is very different! I'm not saying we are the best. We have much to learn and still do. Nor are any references! When I have as a community, of something bigger or a movement I say I'm not. I am the leader of AfroReggae, only!

Junior: In my case I do not see as a mere NGO AfroReggae. We have 74 projects, an NGO, a 'OSCIP' (Public Interest Civil Partnership Organization) and two companies. We think as a corporate business, where the 'profit' is generated and reinvested potentialized. AfroReggae is very peculiar! That I am not saying we are the best. We have a lot to learn and to make. And I do not see us as a reference for anything! When I'm Introduced as a community leader, of something bigger, or of a movement, I say I'm not. I'm leader of AfroReggae, and that's it!

6) How do you see the Olympics and World Cup in Brazil?

6) How do you see the Olympics and the World Cup in Brazil?

Junior: It's fantastic! It is a victory for our people and for a guy who I admire very much, Governor Sergio Cabral.

Junior: Fantastic! This is a victory to our people and to the guy That I Became an admirer, governor Sergio Cabral.

7) How to help AfroReggae?

7) How can one help AfroReggae?

Junior: Disclosing how you're doing. Leveraging the brand, the strategies and making them part of our mission can be spread as inspiring people and those who want to make a difference.

Junior: By disclosing, just the way you are doing right now. By strengthening our name and our strategies, and by making part of our goal That Can Be spread out at the source of inspiration to people, by people who want to make the difference.

Find out more visit the official website or follow the twitter @ jjafroreggae

Read more in Official Website by twitter and follow @ jjafroreggae