My name is Lucas Harry Davis Copyright 2012 by Harry Davis harryhewrites@Gmail.com http://www.amazon.com/My-name-Lucas-Harry-Davis/dp/1469902567/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1354233673&sr=8-1&keywords=my+name+is+lucas This book is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the authors imagination, or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is coincidental. Many times they have persecute me, but they have not prevailed against me - the Psalms we dance in Babylon as we walk to our graves our bodies are in a new land as our story in Africa stays we sing a new song of hope and joy for a better day we look in the mirror in search of a better way.

Dedicated to our Ancestors For you The African Ancestors The chosen few First to fall on the earth Like the morning dew The Ancestors of All Because of you We all are here You gave us the first gifts Of science, math and our kinky hair In this we trust We know our heritage No matter what they call us

Preface My name is Lucas, I'm a young Black boy growing up In Brazil in a Favela, a slum. I'm trying to be a man in a world that only wants me to be a boy, trying to get the respect of a human while being treated like an Animal. Im invisible but I can see myself. They think they know me but they dont. They try to define me but I wont be what they expect. I'm lost in the new world trying to find the old one stolen from me but still alive in me. My name is Lucas.

Victory comes in fighting and the journey is the reward. Your journey will not be easy Lucas, but its a fate you cant avoid. You may live in a slum but you have mansions inside of you. Lucas, you maybe poor, but the world is made richer by you. Lucas, stand tall and strong and always remember to sing your song even when the world tries to stop you. Lucas will live, learn and love, as his world collides with others. At the end he will understand, the only person he needs to love him, is himself. Lucas, Never forget your name Stolen children Come home Stolen African creed What will become of your seed In a strange And hostile world Where you learned how to bleed Learned how to be in need Always looking to fill the void Because your African legacy Was destroyed Taken from a man to a boy All the way to another shore Given shame as a new name An outcasts fame The Europeans game of supremacy Is the Africans true enemy Fight to restore Fight to have more The stolen children must endure Its the black youre fighting for Close the door on the past And create a new future that will last

We Reminisce over you

Lucas remembers a day when he was young and was helping his father sell fruit. The two were selling to tourists in their city of Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Standing in the sun, and working a slow day for sales, Lucas asked his father, Why do we have to stand out here in the sun and do this, Daddy? Its hot. Well, we have to survive, right? You want to eat today dont you? Well, why dont they have to do it? Its not fair. They get to have fun, while we work." The only thing that will ever be fair in your life is how you learn to see yourself. What other people have, and what they are, should never stop you from knowing yourself. Others may think they have more, but only you have Lucas. Youre rich Lucas, because of what is inside you. Ok If Im rich, then lets go buy some toys and stuff. Ha, a man is made rich by more than money. Youre rich because of your heritage. A direct descendent of the first to walk the Earth." Wow, is that true Daddy? Yes. Always remember youre like a tree that was planted in an ancient garden called Earth. And today, youre still the oldest tree in that garden. They knew how rich we were and thats why they stole us from Africa. But, understand, Nobody can steal what you keep safe in your heart. And what is in my heart Daddy? Theres a piece of everyone in there whoever lived. Because, even if most people dont know it, were all brothers. There is your family, your people and their collective history inside of you. Then, theres that piece that only God created to be you. His father then smiled, and we named him Lucas.

Here and now Today, Lucas looks out the window of his two room dwelling. Its home but not really a house, located on a hill in Rio. The view is amazing, but the scenery sometimes can be shocking. He is watching his two younger brothers wrestle outside. Edwardo, cmon. Youre two years older than Salvador. You should have him down by now. Hes so slippery, Lucas. He keeps slipping out of my holds. Lucas laughed as he delighted in his brother's ineptitude. Their mother listened as she cooked meat and vegetables over a heating pad in their makeshift kitchen/living room/bedroom. Dont hurt your little brother, Edwardo. Lucas, stop encouraging him. What, dont hurt your little brother? Salvador is winning this one. Lucas said, laughing to the point of tears. The rough play scares his mother. After a life in the Favela, any form of violence brings back years of trauma. These are light moments for the family during a hard time. Their father went away just a few weeks ago. They were told he left for a job on a cruise ship and will return in a couple of months. If this is true, they dont understand why he left without a word. They just hope hell be back home soon because they miss him dearly A crowd gathers, and more boys join in on the fun. Hey Lucas, show us some Capoeira moves, Someone older shouted to Lucas. He was trying to redirect the days activities to something more positive. Capoeira is a fighting style developed in Brazil by African Slaves, and is still practiced today. Lucas was ready and willing but looked for some help. Ok, but Ill need some help, this means you Vaughn. Lucas looked over to his tall and lanky friend Vaughn. Vaughn is visiting the Favela for the day. Lucas has known him since they both were little. They met at a Capoeira demonstrations with their fathers. Vaughns family doesnt live in the Favela. His father has a good government job and they live in a working class area. He has relatives in the Favela, so he visits often and always stops by to see how Lucas is doing. Lucas started the demonstration by doing a backward flip and landing perfectly in place. It was a flawless, effortless exchange of physical, and spiritual energy. Then Lucas and Vaughn faced each other, as they lowered themselves as close to the ground as possible. It looked as if they were moving in slow motion. Lucas swept with a high kick as Vaughn swept with a low one. They manage to dodge each others blows, as they move in opposite directions, but in unison. Then they stood up and faced each other like two great combatants. Lucas went down on his hands, and at the same time swept kicks at Vaughns head. Vaughn ducked, as he prepared to go down on his hands to sweep kicks back at Lucas. The crowd starts to play Capoeira beats with sticks and whatever could make noise. And they mimick the traditional instruments of Capoeira. Which has become more than a fighting style. Capoeira is now art, music and dance. Some in the crowd chanted Capoeira songs, as Lucas and Vaughn evoke the spirits of Ancient African warriors.

The two face each other again as each tried to be as low to the ground as possible. Lucas does a sideways flip onto one hand and sweeps kicks at Vaughn. Vaughn dodges the kicks, and does a low sweep kick at Lucas. The crowd is in awe of the grace and style of them. They all understand the hours of practice and the dedication needed to conduct such an exhibition of Afro-Brazilian heritage. The moves are well rehearsed and the demonstrators never touch each other. So, they never harm each other. The motions are preformed slow, so they can be perfected in the event of real battle. Just as the vibe was starting to grow, Lucass mother had other plans for her sons. Ok, play time is over. You boys go get us some water. We need it for the meal. The boys headed down to the water pipe near the middle of the hill, the only source of fresh water for everyone in the Favela. Cmon guys lets go, Lucas said, disappointed at having to stop his Capoeira. They walked down the hill descending past tight clusters of homes built into, and on the hill. They made their way past the normal hustle and bustle as neighbors held conversations from out their windows. Oh girl, theyre looking for a guy. He stole something out of a unit. What unit? Dont know, one near the bottom. Morello promised to deal with him. They think its Ms. Elizas son. You know hes just come home from jail and he has been up to no good already. Yeah, Ive seen him going back and forth. Looking like a chicken searching for a worm. Little children run around barely clothed, as their mothers hang together watching and spreading the latest Favela gossip. That girl, Merillie, shes another one going out late from the Favela. I think she is working the tourist. How you know? Well, somebody saw her dressed like a hooker. She claimed she was just going out dancing, oh ok. Yeah right, dressed like that, sure. Teens smoke pot and posture for position. Hey, you guys know my brother is moving up with the reds. Yeah, Morello really trust and respects him. Im going to see if he can get me in. You with the reds? Come on, no way. You smoke too much weed. You get high all the time. They cant trust you with any product. That shit would be gone. Oh shut up. Get the fuck out of here. Ok, you just wait and see, and dont try and ride my heels when Im Red. Hey Lucas, come smoke some pot. Yeah, and we got the new funk tapes from last weeks dance Cant, gotta go get some water for my mom. Ok, well come through later. Well be here all night.

At times, life on the hills can seem like a party when nothing is going on with the police or gangs. It can all seem so normal, like hell is actually a decent place to live. Ok, take the water back to Momma. Im going to run down to the Capoeira studio. You and that Capoeira. I bet I could still kick your ass Lucas. Edwardo said to Lucas, with an aggressive stare. You think so? You just try it. Let me know when you ready little brother. Tell Momma, Ill be back on the hill before it gets dark. Lucas went to the Capoeira studio, and a guest speaker from out of town was giving a lecture. There was not much room, so he sat on the floor giving his full attention to the speaker. Capoeira only works, when we connect the mind and body. A connection must be made to motherland Africa, and all who study the discipline. Its a oneness with many. Some may think Capoeira is an old ancient endeavor. As the Ancestors needed it then, we still need it today. The battles for us maybe different. What do I mean by that? The shackles today maybe mental and economic, but shackles are there, none the less. Remember, this is still the West, and its still Brazil. "teach those that hate themselves to love again, teach them to look in the mirror and see a respected friend"

Ola Brasil Brazil, an exotic culture and country where different people come together, but still live apart. Living in Brazil, a stranger in a strange land must find himself. He must learn how to define, and love himself. He must learn all this against the odds, and the definitions and hatred of others. (Brasil), as spelled in its native tongue of Portuguese is named after a wood taken from a tree that grew in the region. A land forged by the history of European Colonialism, Imperialism and African slavery. Lucas is one of some 90 million people in Brazil, who claim African descent. Brazil is second only to Nigeria, with the largest population of Black people. As home to one of the largest deposits of African souls from Africas Diaspora, Brazil has some quite unique aspects. The contrast in Brazil between the history of slavery, and race relations as compared to the United States is quite deep. A larger amount of African slaves were brought to Brazil, because of its closer proximity to Africa. The Portuguese also had control of more shipping ports than other European powers. The Portuguese also had a massive need for labor in Brazils booming sugar cane industry. As Slavery evolved and was eventually abolished legally, but not practically. Blacks in Brazil experienced a whole different beast of Racism. The glaring difference between blacks in Brazil, and blacks in America was the lack of a major Civil Rights movement in Brazil. In Brazil, racism was officially outlawed early on, and open relationships with whites were more socially acceptable. So, the illusion was given that Brazil was a racial paradise. So, a fight for equality was really not necessary. Even though history will show, blacks were actually treated harsher in Brazil. Americas obvious overt racism, actually gave blacks more of an opportunity to assert their humanity, and dignity. Brazil used a more bend, but dont break style of racism. America's racism was harder, and subject more to fracture. Blacks in Brazil in many ways had less, but in some different ways had more. For blacks in Brazil there exists a richer cultural identity and connection to Africa. Especially in the region of Bahia, where the largest amount of Africans were brought. Even though it seems the language, cultural and geographical disconnect has made blacks in Brazil hidden, more isolated in the black Diaspora. keep your light burning even when the world tries to make it dark, be your own light, candle and spark

The Grind Lucas works in the home of a Judge in the upper class district of Rio de Janerio. The center of Brazilian culture and history. He helps cook the family breakfast, and does other chores around the house. Another women from the Favela also works there. For many poor, and lower class people in Brazil, servant or service jobs are all thats available to them. Cleaning, cooking, or sucking some foreigner off is the base of a still Master and Servant economy. So, for Lucas coming from the Favela, his options are limited. Black in Brazil is the color of poverty and alienation. The Favela is home to that poverty and alienation. Favelas were first created by freed slaves and army vets. They lacked housing, and were given lands to settle on by the Government. The lands they were given, usually unwanted, had to suffice. They built homes, if you could call them that, with whatever material could be found. As Favela Residents found work, and other resources, they purchased better building materials. Proper materials, like brick and mortar allowed them to construct more stable housing. Still most Favela structures are far from being building code proper, but are amazing examples of necessity being the mother of invention. The lands they were given, often located in the outskirts away from the cities, became what we know today as Brazils infamous slums. As the Brazilian economy grew and people from the slums looked for work closer to economic centers, more Favelas were constructed, again on unwanted often dangerous land. Land that had no commercial value. In Rio, famous slums were built on hills over looking the City. The term favela, comes from, Fave bean. The tight cluster of self constructed homes, looked like the inside of a fave bean. Favelas today have evolved, but they remain a lasting example of where Brazil came from and what it still is today. their lies will reveal the truth