The song ‘Diário de Um Detento‘, by Racionais MC’s, tells the story of an imprisoned man and his experiences. The first-person narrative begins on October 1, but it is on the second day that it reaches its climax: the date is marked by the Carandiru Massacre, which took place on October 2, 1992, in the former São Paulo House of Detention, in the North Zone of the capital.
The military action was motivated by a fight between prisoners in Pavilion 9 of the penitentiary, but soon escalated into what we know as one of São Paulo’s bloodiest days.
Years after the massacre, the site was transformed into the Parque da Juventude (Youth Park), a leisure space for all, but which still harbors the history of the date that claimed the lives of 111 inmates. The event opened up discussions about the inadequacy of the Brazilian prison system, which appears to be failing to fulfill its role of social rehabilitation.
October 1st, the date before the massacre
On the album “Sobrevivendo no Inferno”, released in 1997, “Diário de um Detento” deals with the Carandiru prison riot. The rap song by the group Racionais MC’s, written by Mano Brown and Jocenir, is always remembered on October 1st, the date that precedes another year of massacre.
Now that you know the sad story behind the song, when you listen to ‘Diário de um Detento’ again or stroll through Parque da Juventude, you’ll remember one of the bloodiest tragedies in São Paulo.
