The Prophet Gentileza arises

On Sunday, 17 December 1961, in the municipality of Niterói, there was a major fire at a circus, called considered one of the largest circus disasters in history.^[3] This fire killed more than 500 people, mostly children. On the eve of Christmas, six days after the event, José woke up claiming to have heard "astral voices", in his own words, that commanded him to leave the material world and devote himself only to the spiritual world. The Prophet took one of his trucks and went to the fire scene, where today is the Niterói Military Medical Services. He planted a garden and a vegetable garden on the ashes of the Niterói circus, a place that was once the scene of so much joy, but also of great sadness. That place was his home for four years. There, José Datrino instilled in people the real meaning of the words Thankful and Kindness (respec. Agradecido and Gentileza). He was a comforter volunteer, who helped the victims families with his words of goodness. From that day on, he came to be called "José Agradecido", or "Profeta Gentileza".^[2]

Contradicting the folk tale, Gentileza always reasserted: I am the father of five children, three feminine and two masculine, I did not lose anyone in the circus fire!"^[4]

After leaving the place that was termed "Paraíso Gentileza," the prophet began his journey as a stroller character. From 1970 toured throughout all the city. He was seen in the streets, squares, ferries crossing between Rio de Janeiro and Niterói, on the trains and busses, making his preaching and bringing words of love, kindness and respect for others and nature to all who crossed his path. To those called him mad, he would reply: - "I am mad to love you and crazy to save you".^[2]

However, an article authored by Professor Luiza Petersen and journalist writer Marcelo Camara, who knew Datrino ("Jornal do Brazil" newspaper of 21 February 2010 and rebutted by another article published in the Jornal do Brazil newspaper^[5] he says, despite speaking in gentleness as a mantra, was "aggressive, outspoken moralist and [...] ranted, offended and threatened to beat up bystanders "to the point of sometimes be necessary to call the police to calm him. "The main victims were women in miniskirts or tight pants, short hair, who wore makeup, high heels and adornments [...] The majority of the population, especially women and children, fled from him." The image created of him after his death, according to the authors, does not correspond to the memories of those who lived with him during the years 1960 and 1970.

The Wall Paintings

From 1980, he picked 56 flyover pilasters in Rio de Janeiro, ranging from Cemitério do Caju to Novo Rio Bus Station, a distance of roughly 1.5 km. He then filled the flyover pilasters with inscriptions in yellow-green proposing his criticism of the world and his alternative to the unease of civilization.

During the Eco '92, the Prophet Gentileza placed himself strategically in the place through which passed the countries representatives and incited them to live the kindness and enforce it throughout the Earth.

After his death

On Pentecost Wednesday, 29 May 1996, at age 79, he died in Mirandópolis, his family town, where he was buried.

Over the years, the wall paintings were damaged by taggers, vandalized, and later covered with gray paint. The elimination of the inscriptions was criticized and subsequently with help from Rio de Janeiro city government, the project Rio com Gentileza was created, with the goal of restoring the pilasters wall paintings. They began to be restored in January 1999. In May 2000, the restoration was completed and the carioca urban heritage inscriptions were preserved.

At the end of the year 2000 is published by EdUFF (Publisher of Universidade Federal Fluminense) the book Brazil: Time Gentileza, authored by Professor Leonardo Guelman. The work introduces the reader into the "universe" of Prophet Gentileza through his path, the stylization of its objects, his unique calligraphy and all 56 panels created by him, bringing facts related to the project Rio com Gentileza, describing the stages of the writings restoration process. The book is richly illustrated with numerous photographs, mostly of the prophet and his trinkets and panels. Besides pictures of the prophet himself working alongside some of pilasters, there are pictures of the writings before, during and after the restoration process.

In 2001, the prophet has been honored by Samba School GRES Acadêmicos do Grande Rio.^[6]

In Conselheiro Lafaiete, remote town in Minas Gerais, there is a broad work done by NGO AMAR that continues the work of Prophet Gentileza. Workshops were developed with youngsters in the city where it was possible to pass on the mosaic techniques. Moreover, a large wall in the neighborhood São João received a lovely mosaic application. And São Pedro square in the neighborhood Albinopólis was all decorated after the example of Prophet Gentileza.

In 2022 Rio City Hall decided to name a new light rail, BRT and bus terminal on the outskirts of downtown area after him - Terminal Intermodal Gentileza.^[7]

The prophet Gentileza in the arts

• Gentileza was honored by the music composer Gonzaguinha, in the 1980s, and also by singer Marisa Monte in the 1990s. Both songs take the name "Gentileza".
• The Gonzaguinha's song depicts a homage to the prophet, as seen in the excerpt: "Feito louco / Pelas ruas / Com sua fé / Gentileza / O profeta / E as palavras / Calmamente / Semeando / O amor / À vida / Aos humanos".
• The Marisa Monte's song, in its turn, beyond encouraging the values preached by the prophet (in the passage "Nós que passamos apressados / Pelas ruas da cidade / Merecemos ler as letras / E as palavras de Gentileza"), portrays the damage incurred against the wall paintings, as in the excerpt: "Apagaram tudo / Pintaram tudo de cinza / Só ficou no muro / Tristeza e tinta fresca.".
• In the year 2000, in the town of Mirandópolis (SP), where the prophet is buried, was established the first NGO of the town:"Gera Gentileza Gentileza", founded by relatives and friends who admired the Prophet life philosophy. The NGO, beyond reminding the person José Datrino (Gentileza Prophet), in its name, had the mission to spread education and culture throughout the region. Several events have been made, such as: monthly itinerant soirees, Coral Meetings, Culture Afternoons for Kids in the town Grove, Participation in School Events and an annual event called "Gentileza Gera Gentileza", with music, theater, poetry and dance, among others.
• In 2009, the prophet was interpreted in a special appearance by the actor Paulo José, in the soap opera Caminho das Índias, aired by Rede Globo from January to September 2009.