Anderson Silva recalls episode of racism and criticizes: 'Our law is very flawed'

Anderson (photo) says he has suffered racism in several situations in Brazil. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

Anderson Silva, one of the biggest names in the history of MMA, stated that he has been through several episodes in which he suffered racism. The former UFC middleweight champion also criticized Brazilian laws that do not provide for sufficiently rigorous punishments for people who commit racial crimes.

However, “Spider” stated, in an interview with “Trip” magazine, that he always dealt calmly with the matter. “There were several situations [in which she suffered racism], but I never had a problem with it because at home we were always very well instructed by my aunt Edith on how to deal with these situations,” she said. “She always reinforced that we are all equal, regardless of whether we are black, white, yellow, purple, rich or poor. When you have this awareness, you have the ability to deal with certain situations. No matter how much they end up making you a little embarrassed, no matter how much they hurt you, you learn to deal with it,” she explained.

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The episode that marked Anderson the most happened when he was still working as a server in a cafeteria. “A customer asked: ‘Is there no one to help me?’. I replied: ‘I am here to serve you’. Then he said: ‘I don’t want to be served by a black person’. I went to my manager and told him that there was a man who didn't want to be served by me. The manager went to the counter, and the customer said: ‘I don’t want to be served by a black person, that’s absurd’. Then the manager replied: ‘If you don’t get served by him, you won’t get served by anyone else here’. Then that man left the store a little angry,” he recalled.

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Despite what happened, Anderson never chose to go to the police. “I would miss my day of work, I would have to go to the police station and nothing would happen. Because our law, as much as it exists, is very flawed. Especially when it comes to this kind of thing. At the time, my case would not have any repercussions. Now yes. But back then I was an ordinary person”, explained the fighter, who tries to pass on his way of seeing the situation to his children.

“I tell them not to let anyone disrespect them and to be careful not to disrespect anyone. Life is all about giving people respect and getting it back. Follow wherever you decide to walk with your head held high, determination and honor. That’s what I pass on to my children,” Anderson explained.

“Dana White can’t retire me. He doesn’t have that right,” he says.

Spider in a physiotherapy session with Guto Demeski. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Anderson Silva He is still recovering from the serious injury suffered in his last fight, in December last year. The Brazilian was trying to regain his UFC belt against Chris Weidman, who had defeated him a few months earlier, but suffered a serious fracture in his left leg after having his shot saved by his opponent.

The former champion stated that he feels good physically, saying that his leg, “from 0 to 10, is at 9”, but reiterates that he will only think about returning to fights in 2015. Retirement, at the moment, is ruled out. “No one can tell me it’s time for me to stop. Dana White [UFC president] can't retire me, he doesn't have that right. He can take care of his business, his things. It’s the athlete who knows when and how to stop”, declared the fighter. “I can stop whenever I decide to stop.”

However, Anderson recognizes that several people around him are rooting for his retirement. “My wife and children also think I have to retire. At home there's a feeling of 'I think' that never comes to anything. No one can tell you what to do within what you love. You’re the one who has to know your limit and when it’s time to stop,” she explained.

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