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Racial inequalities, black protest and public policies in brazil
Sérgio, Antonio Guimarães, Alfredo
Sérgio, Antonio
Guimarães, Alfredo
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dguimara.pdf
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"I begin by providing a brief overview of the evolution of racial inequalities and Black poverty in Brazil. There is a steady and increasing pattern of inequality between non-whites (blacks and pardos) and whites in every aspect of social life (income, occupation, education, health, housing, etc.). The data show that the increase in wealth and quality of life that occurred in the last decades was almost completely concentrated in the white population. The emergence of a black middle class did not contradict the fact of rampant inequality between ethno-racial groups. On the contrary, the tiny black middle class that has emerged provides support for an organized black movement in the country. I then discuss the question of how a country that is believed to have exceptionally few race issues generates contradictory public reactions even today towards the implementation of affirmative action policies, which could break the structural inertia of inequality. In the next section, I present the Movimento Negro Unificado (Unified Black Movement) agenda in the 1980s and 1990s. I explain (a) the main areas of racial unrest (everyday racial discrimination, prejudice expressed in books, mass media, educational system, lack of political representation); and (b) the political strategy of the Black movement, its alliance with the esquerda and the progressive parties, and the gains that accrued to it under the 1988 Constitutional Charter. Subsequently, I analyze the main state responses to the Black movement s agenda. I analyze the official responses to black mobilization and as attempts to integrate black protest into the political system. I conclude the paper by providing a brief appraisal of current federal programs, which can affect the black population and reduce inequalities (Agenda 2000-2001; Avança Brasil; Alvorada, PLANFOR). Given the increase in inequalities among ethno-racial groups, despite state efforts to tackle them, I will conclude by trying to answer the question: what is wrong with Brazil s anti-racist programs? "(pg 3)
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2001-09-03
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With permission of the license/copyright holder