Racism in a Racial Democracy: The Maintenance of White Supremacy in Brazil None Edition

I grew up in Brazil until I was 12yo and have been living in the US since. I read this book for an undergraduate anthropology course and I have to say that this book was absolutely necessary! The social construct of race has caused lots of racial inequality throughout the world, especially in Brazil although they deny it through the myth of racial democracy. I remember growing up with the idea of race being thrown around. if you ask around in Brazil, you’ll hear so many different people identifying with many different races. The myth of racial democracy is well presented in the series by Dr. Henry Louis Gates “Black in Latin America” in the Brazil episode, I strongely recommend it. The discussion in this book is very much real. Anyone who denies it, is a part of the problem. White supremacy might sound like a heavy term but it remains present in Brazil.

The book contains the author's field observations about racism during her one year stay in a very small community. The book does describe many forms of racism in Brazil but the observations can not be generalized to our entire country. Brazil is a very large country and racism is expressed in different ways in different regions. But, definetely, racial democracy is a Brazilian myth.

You learn a lot of how people view themselves and others in Brazil. The book was new and it didn't have any marks or anything, just like it was promised.

Outstanding!Very well written and researched studyof white racism and black acquiescencein comtemporary Brazil.Outstanding!

The suggestion that Brazil is divided only by class is the argument that Twine attacke directly in this book. It is precisely the maintenance of a white supremacist social system that has convinced both whites and people of color in Brazil that racism does not exist. Time and again her interviewees insist that racism does not exist, despite mestizo and black Brazilians being paid slave wages for hours and hours of work or the absence of people of color in the government, economy, or the elite, rich, ruling class. There is just enough mobility for people to deny racism in Brazil exists, but Twine dismantles this argument piece by piece...

I was very dissapointed after reading this book that this is the impression Americans are getting about race in Brasil. I am a Brazilian of mixed black/white/indian heritage like many Brasilians, and I can tell you that France Winddance Twine has misinterpreted race relations in my country. The idea of "white supremacy" does not exist in Brasil. Of course there is racism, but it would be very hard for an American to understand Brasilian miscengenacao (racial mixing). Many white Brasilians do not consider themselves to be white, and share the same afro/mestico culture as the rest of Brasilians, while many wealthy dark skin Brasilians may consider themselves to be white. However, it is so different than the American situation that you cannot begin to compare. Brasil is not divided by race like America is, however we are very divided by class. If you ask most Brasilians what race they are they will likely reply: Brasileiro!! This book analyzes our race situation from an American point of view on Race.

O livro é bom, porém a versão Kindle deveria ter a paginação conforme o livro impresso, pois isso é necessário para as citações em textos científicos. Eu ainda não li tudo, mas passei a vista e parece ter coisas bem legais sobre a democracia racial que é um mito que esconde as diversas formas de opressão contra os negros no país. Espero que me ajude nas minhas pesquisas.