Racism in a Racial Democracy: The Maintenance of White Supremacy in BrazilIn Racism in a Racial Democracy, France Winddance Twine asks why Brazilians, particularly Afro-Brazilians, continue to have faith in Brazil's "racial democracy" in the face of pervasive racism in all spheres of Brazilian life. Through a detailed ethnography, Twine provides a cultural analysis of the everyday discursive and material practices that sustain and naturalize white supremacy. This is the first ethnographic study of racism in southeastern Brazil to place the practices of upwardly mobile Afro-Brazilians at the center of analysis. Based on extensive field research and more than fifty life histories with Afro- and Euro-Brazilians, this book analyzes how Brazilians conceptualize and respond to racial disparities. Twine illuminates the obstacles Brazilian activists face when attempting to generate grassroots support for an antiracist movement among the majority of working class Brazilians. Anyone interested in racism and antiracism in Latin America will find this book compelling. |
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Abdias do Nascimento absence of Afro-Brazilians African ancestry African-descent Afro Afro-Brazilian children Afro-Brazilian professionals ancestors antiracist activists argued Ariana asked blond Boa Vista branco Brazil Brazilian racial Carla census chapter city of Rio dark-skinned Afro-Brazilian daughter define racism definitions of racism described discourse discussion Dona Rosaria embranquecimento encountered examples of racism family members father forms of racism hair Hasenbalg IBGE ideology institutional racism interracial marriage interviewed Isabela Italian Italian-Brazilian light-skinned lived main street married mestiçagem middle-class miscegenation mobility Moema moreno mother Mul./Black mulattos multiracial negro never nonelites nonwhites partner Paulo person Photo plantation owner political population Portuguese practices race racial democracy racial inequality racial segregation residents Rio de Janeiro Rodolpho São Paulo skin color slavery slaves socioeconomic Tatiana teachers television Thomas Skidmore tion told Tônica town typically U.S. black University Vasalia white elite white supremacy woman working-class Afro-Brazilians Xuxa