XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Counterrevolution, Peasant Struggle, and Black Dissent: Interrogating the Intersections of Race and Authoritarianism in Brazil

Session Submission Type: Complete Panel

Abstract

This panel examines the intersections of race, youth, radicalism, and authoritarianism in the Brazilian context through three case studies. The first paper, “The Black Associations and the Brazilian Antiblackness Dictatorship, 1976-1978.” analyzes the dictatorship's investigation of Black associations as potential subjects of insubordination. This paper shows how ideas about race and racial harmony were used to maintain power and control dissent, particularly among Black activists.
The second paper, "Punk and Peasants: The Brazilian Landless Workers' Movement (MST) in Hardcore Songs from the 1990s and 2000s,'' examines the ways in which the Brazilian Landless Workers' Movement (MST) was represented in punk music, which spread MST’s message and built solidarity between the two social phenomena. By analyzing lyrics from the 1990s and 2000s, this paper shows how the MST was present in punk music in a challenge of dominant narratives about peasants and land reform, while also highlighting the intersections of class, race, and gender in Brazilian society.
The third paper, "The Intelligence Files on the Black Panther Party's International Section and Brazilian Dissidents in 1970s Algiers: An Exploration of Archives, Exiles, and Counterrevolution," explores the connections between the Black Panther Party's international section and Brazilian dissidents who sought refuge in Algiers during the 1970s. Through a critical analysis of recently declassified intelligence files, this paper shows how the U.S. government sought to disrupt and dismantle these networks, highlighting the broader impact of Cold War politics on the global struggle for racial and social justice.
Together, these three papers offer important insights into the complex ways in which race intersects with authoritarianism in the Brazilian context, highlighting the ongoing struggles for justice and democracy in this complex and vibrant society.

Sub Unit

• XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Individual Presentations

• The Black Associations and the Brazilian Antiblackness Dictatorship, 1976-1978. - Caio Fernandes Barbosa, University of Nevada Reno

• Punk and Peasants: The Brazilian Landless Workers' Movement (MST) in Hardcore Songs from the 1990s and 2000s - Rodrigo Lopes de Barros, Harvard University

• The Intelligence Files on the Black Panther Party's International Section and Brazilian Dissidents in 1970s Algiers: An Exploration of Archives, Exiles, and Counterrevolution - MARCELO JOSE DOMINGOS, IHG -DF / SEDF

Chair

• Rodrigo Lopes de Barros, Harvard University

Moderator

• MARCELO JOSE DOMINGOS, IHG -DF / SEDF

Session Organizer

• Caio Fernandes Barbosa, University of Nevada Reno