The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif">The pictures and words framing City of God are often those of war, drugs and crime. The children play a great part in this story. Not only are they victims of the drugtrade in the favelas, they are also victims of prejudices and exclusion. These are created because of a mainstream media coverage that is often one-sided and focus on conflict. But the favelas are much more than that. There are a home for people who wish to live a normal and peaceful life. This is the story the two boys on the football field in City of God tell us: they play the happy part, which is rarely shared.</span>