Race and politics in Brazil: Workers’ Party and beyond

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

In 2003, when the Workers’ Party government came to power in Brazil it inaugurated a new stage in social policies by creating the Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality Policies (SEPPIR). Notably pushed forward by the black movement, SEPPIR combined the most advanced legislation on racism, prejudice and discrimination with policies to promote racial equality. At the same time, social policies like Programa Bolsa Família, the raising of minimum wage, microcredit initiatives and the support to family farming, although color-blind policies, contributed to a progressive reduction of racial inequality. As such, between 2003 and 2014, Brazil experienced significant social advances with increased employment and income, poverty reduction, decrease in maternal and child mortality rates. The improvement was greater for blacks and browns than whites. Yet, racial inequality did not reverse with the same level of intensity in other social indicators or it worsened as in the case of the homicide rates. This panel seeks to address improvements and limits regarding race equity during the Workers’ Party governments. It also analyzes if, how and why those improvements have been reversed since 2015.

Sub Track

• Afro-Latin/Indigenous Peoples

Session Organizer

• Marcelo Paixão, University of Texas at Austin

Chair

• Mario L Theodoro

Individual Presentations

• Ten years of Race Equity Policies in Brazil: an overview in the light of IBGE indicators - Mario L Theodoro

• Dilma, Temer and beyond: an assessment of the racial inequality in the Brazilian labor market (2014-2017) - Marcelo Paixão, University of Texas at Austin

• The Impact of the Impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff on Black Politics and Affirmative Action in Brazil - Ollie A Johnson, Wayne State University

• Race, gender and political performance in Brazil - Irene Rossetto, The University of Texas at Austin