Who is Pele? His Autobiography Reveals who he is and why.
Hi,
Pele is one awesome man and soccer player,
Contents:
·Description of Socio-cultural Group of
Family of Origin
·Historical Event: Professional Football in Brazil 1933
Don’t be fooled these reports are robust and between two of them deliver everything promised and a little more…
So enjoy them and share them with friends (please include all links).
I have written them from my passion for Pele and to get to know him more deeply and intimately as someone who hasn’t met him can at least.
Take care, have fun and God Bless, Arohanui, Richard Kerr-Bell http://www.training-soccer-expert.com/
mailto:richlife@xtra.co.nz
Welcome to this four part series on what “My Life and Beautiful Game” reveals about Pele.<
Installment No.1
Pele’s Family Origins
It is possible to assume from photos included in Pele’s autobiography and in Pele’s descriptions of being ‘black’, that he descends from 3 million African people brought to Brazil as slaves between mid-1500s and 1850-88 when slavery was abolished in Brazil. (Microsoft Encarta online Encyclopaedia 2001)“I have often been asked if, being black, I ever faced racial prejudice”(Pele, 1977, p.83)
While African spiritualism and other African customs have continued from their native lands of Congo, Mozambique and West Africa, it is obvious that Catholic culture of Portuguese has played a role in families belief system. Pele mentions his baptism explaining his delight at meeting Popes John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, and what it meant for him. Most of Brazil’s population and particularly that of black Brazilians until 1960s’, lived rurally working in gold mines or sugar plantations and later on coffee plantations. The Government then encouraged multi-national investors into Brazil, expanding Iron and Steel Industries resulting in many people moving into urban areas particularly in southeast, where Pele grew up. Dondinho (nickname), Pele’s father was a professional soccer player. The family moved around as Dondinho followed employment opportunities with different clubs. While Dondinho signed for a big club, an injury in first game of season meant a return home. He played for minor clubs receiving a wage “called in Portuguese a mixera –not a very nice word meaning less than nothing”(Pele, 1977). There was no insurance or compensation scheme at time. He also worked in a hospital as a cleaner. Dona Celeste (Pele’s mother) did not appear to have paid employment though she was bringing up three children.
Dona Celeste and Joao Ramos de Nascimento, his mother and father both express values as told by Pele, of dignity of people, value of a promise and carrying ones self with respect. Family was an important value to parents. His mother’s brother Jorge, and her mother, Dona Ambrosina, lived with them and were consulted in various decisions about family. Pele also records his own concern and affection for his family.
Installment No.2 Pele’s Autobiography reveals Man. Neither of his parents seems to have had an education or at least much formal education. In 1950 an estimated 50% of population over 15 were illiterate. (Microsoft Encarta 2000) In 1997 problem still exists with only 18% of blacks completing a maximum 8 years of school and 35.2% still unable to read (SEJUP, News from Brazil, 1997). Pele never mentions reading or books in house. He mentions endless games of football in neighbourhood, selling wood with his Uncle Jorge, selling unfinished cigarette butts, stolen peanuts, and later shining shoes, as activities he was involved in as a child.
Living in a two room rented house made of reused brick and washed plaster, were some of stress factors seven members of extended family experienced. Pele recorded poverty his family lived in and arguments and constant negativity he heard. These were predominately about need for Dondinho to get a proper job and Pele’s mother’s pressure for him to be looking at other ways to spend his time than playing football. “Poverty, in short, is being robbed of self respect and self reliance. Poverty is fear. Not fear of death, which though inevitable, is reasonable; it is fear of life. It is a terrible fear…during first few years in Bauru, however, poverty was a problem for my parents”(Pele, 1977).
In summary, Pele’s family of origin is a poor Brazilian family, descended from African and Portuguese ancestors with little or no formal education or qualifications. They lived in an extended family situation and were Roman Catholic. In 1940 they lived in a Favela (an area of poor housing with little or no running water, electricity) in town of Tres Coracoes, in state of Minas Gerais on southeastern area of Brazil. That Pele has held a Government post, and visited over 88 countries, has met with ten kings, five Emperors, seventy Presidents and 40 other Heads of States including 2 Popes, holds a University qualification and has been voted to be Sports Person of Century is remarkable. As an African Portuguese descendant, growing up in Brazil, it would be significant enough to be able to read and write. Brazil’s society has and still excludes these people from rising above their poverty through large numbers that still cannot read, write or share in countries wealth.
Installment No.3
Soccer’s Role in Brazil, Pele’s Time is near… Historical Event: Professional Football in Brazil 1933
Professional football has had far reaching effects in Brazilian culture and life. Given Brazil’s significant number of unskilled, illiterate, and marginalised people, introduction of professional football in 1933, has enabled numerous people opportunity to play a part in their community, as volunteers, board members, supporters, a number of support jobs, a collective identity, and ultimately for a portion of these, a career playing Soccer all over Brazil. In case of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele), possibility to play in many countries, representing his club, his country, and his people.
