Week 13 – Comparing Group Inequality Between Countries – Race

 

Our discussion this week is based on the Introduction of Ellis Monk’s PhD dissertation:

Monk, Ellis P. 2013. “Color, Bodily Capital, and Ethnoracial Division in the U.S. and Brazil.” [Introduction pp.1 – 22]

I recommend you finish the readings before carefully going over my PowerPoint presentation with voiceover where I explain important ideas and concepts covered in the readings.

Watch the video below on race relations in Brazil.

Watch the video below as it directly relates to this week’s reading.

Lecture Posts Questions:

Please note that this and future lecture posts will be worth double and are now due on Monday

On the comments section below, address the following questions (answers should be at least 100 words in length and posted by Monday – This is how participation points are assessed. Please save your comments in a safe document before attempting to post it.

  1. From  my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?
  2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?
  3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
  4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?
  5. How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
  6. Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?

20 thoughts on “Week 13 – Comparing Group Inequality Between Countries – Race

  1. 1. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?

    I was not sure if I understood correctly, but is class inequality a result of racial inequality? If race were not a construct that existed, would there be less class inequality? Would gender be the ruling factor to replace racism? I cannot really wrap around my head how much money the top 1% of Brazil was earning compared to the rest of the country if they were earning a larger share than the top 1% in the US. Both the US and Brazil are very unequal when it comes to income levels but I was just taken by surprise to see how much more unequal Brazil was when it came to the top 1%. It was scary to see that.

    2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?

    Within the Black population, there is still a presence of stratification based on skin color. There is a difference in how lighter-toned individuals will be treated compared to those who have a darker skin tone that stemmed from slavery. The claims on who is Black or White are based on skin color and ancestry, but Hispanics were excluded because they are not of African descent to be considered black even though they also have skin tone variation. The US and Brazil were described as having different ethnoracial categories since the US bases it on African ancestry while Brazil bases it on phenotypic traits. Using phenotypic traits to determine someone’s traits is a poor method because of how much variability exists.

    3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?

    The reading was very eye-opening for me and I was learning a lot. I did not know that the form of ethnoracial categorization in the US was compared to the other ways that countries will define racial groups. I was confused with the reasoning on why Latinx were excluded when speaking on who is considered Black? I understood that it had to with ancestry, but there were slaves that were brought to what is now Latin America. I was also confused with how complex the terms of “Biracial USA” and “Multi-racial Brazil” due to the different criteria both countries have. It was a struggle of trying to make something fit in a category when the way we look or our ancestry could never be a valid reason to decide someone’s race for them.

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?

    There is a myth that Brazilians are multiracial so they do not define themselves by race, there is a racial democracy. A reference of blackness was erased and it made it difficult for people who identify themselves as Black. There were policies in Brazil that created obstacles for Black people when it came to owning land, education, and work. Those who could not read or write were not able to vote. This hit Black people the most because they were the most oppressed group that did not have fair access to education. The myth of racial democracy was a basis for dictatorship. Black people are being targeted by police and facing the highest rate of police brutality. People are protesting to fight back against anti-Blackness in Brazil.

    5. How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?

    The video was showing how a family had such variety in skin tones and other phenotypic characteristics that would set them apart in society. It was so interesting to see the 5-year-old year girl call herself Brown and then her mother s calling her White. It was also interesting to see that the little girl answered with “I don’t know” when asked why she thinks she is Brown. These findings relate to the reading because it is showing how difficult it is to try and force every person to fit in a category based on what they look like when phenotypic characteristics vary so heavily. This categorization by phenotype is subjective so it is impossible to declare a definitive place for everyone when there are different perspectives on who is White, Black, or Brown. In the countries I come from there is a similar categorization of people by their phenotype. There are colorist biases for those who are lighter skin tones will have more social mobility compared to those who are dark or considered Black.

    6. Any general thoughts, comments, or questions you would like to share?

    I have this frustration with there being constant division among people that are based on beliefs. There is this need to differentiate those who are White from those who are Black as though we are not humans but just objects. It is dehumanizing to have categories as though we are made up of different species. A construct created by people who thought they were superior off of subjective claims. It is not right that this belief is still alive today because it is so inhumane. Nowhere does it say that Black people are any less human than White people so what is the issue? Why does there need to be so much hatred?

    • Hi Natalie,
      I agreed with you that it’s unfair to know that humans are still being categorized by their biological feature and divided by race, especially in a country like Brazil that portray to be a country of racial democracy. I recent ready up a case where African Americans took to the court that there are racial discrimination existed in Brazil and that Blacks find it very hard for upward mobility due to the system. The court dismiss the case because it stated that there is no evidence to show such claim and that Brazil is a racial democracy countries and everyone is equal. But In reality blacks face constant structural barriers that prevent them from unlocking their true potentials as their whites or lighter skin counterparts.

  2. Question #1:
    The Presentation, I feel, couldn’t have been more clearer as most of the ideas presented were the same things brought forth in the book on this look of how race plays in Brazil versus America. I found the racial demographic statistic comparing the populations of black people in both countries to be an eye opener. While the U.S has a more straightforward trend throughout 1870-2010 of their white versus black count in society, Brazil had an interesting pattern. From 1870 to approaching the years of 1910, the population of black people were rapidly declining while the whites had the complete opposite effect. This made me think of the many factors that have led to these different directions. I thought that because black people were less favored and looked down upon, that this had an impact as we know that Brazil held one of the biggest amounts of slaves. As millions of black individuals died, Brazil preferred people of a more European descent as the lighter you are, or closer you are to being white, the better your outcome of life will be.

    Question #2:
    The main takeaways from this reading are on how African Americans are treated in comparison to their white counterparts. What I learned was that it depends on “how black” someone is, which results in different mistreatments. For instance, since a light skin person isn’t representative of a full black complexion, they’re deemed to be superior since they have a mixed ancestry, compared to a full African American. The same notion holds for Hispanics. The whiter or blacker someone appears to look, holds a different amount of status based on that skin color. Another term for this (light skin color versus black) is stratification. Monk’s reading emphasizes this concept in detail and how it has large impacts on darker skinned people, such as being more likely to live in poverty or consequently have higher blood pressures (Monk 8). Features are another “marker” of what it means to be black. For instance, in Brazil, shapes and sizes of noses, hair texture, and other factors are implemented as a trait for what it means to be a particular skin tone. What I find most intriguing was that there’s been ongoing arguments of these elements being something of the 21st century which does/doesn’t affect black people today. I feel like it still does in the U.S and other countries such as Brazil, which continues to be very discriminatory.

    Question #3:
    The reading for the most part was clear. What was a bit shocking happened to be the data on skin color which Brazil had, in terms of using that as a marker for the factors in life. For instance, while the U.S may use race as a determinant for economical and political decisions, the data which Brazil holds is not there. I thought that as a large country being more populated with black people, it would contain a large dataset for that of skin tones. I was a bit confused on the concept of the “one drop rule”. To my understanding, when it comes to classifying someone, you would pay full attention to their ancestry rather than other elements like hair type or the color of their skin. If I got that right then my comment on that would be that I agree with it. When it comes to race, one may look like they belong (for instance) to be blanco, but after digging deep into one’s racial makeup, it may be that they are mixed with blanco and pardo blood. Also, someone can’t control their nose shape or other phenotypic traits which is why it’s particularly important that we don’t make assumptions that someone must be white or black, but we look more so into the facts.

    Question #4:
    The main takeaways are the large challenges that black people in Brazil have had to face. It’s not easy to live day to day as a black individual, but particularly in Brazil, it’s a much more intense experience. Home to millions of black individuals (second largest country for this), the segregation and treatment of one another is not okay. Even with the millions of slaves and the general black population, Brazil’s goal was to whitewash society. They wanted white people to dominate and hold more power. No matter if you were of a mixed race, as this was common, the idea was that white people were far more superior. The staggering statistic was just mind-boggling on how 75% of people in Brazil who were killed by the police were black. 75%… 3/4ths of a whole population of black people who constitute the most deaths shows how the existence of Racism is very much highly present. It’s upsetting to see how many protests and movements have to take place to get voices heard. Interracial marriages are also tough to balance due to the severe hatred and battle against the black population.

    Question #5:
    The second video related to the week’s reading as it acknowledges Brazil for having a large black race. We know that Brazil played a huge part in the transatlantic slave trade as the amount of slave labour they held was larger than most other countries.This video of these interviews that took place, shows who thinks others are black/white. For instance, what stood out to me was one of the women (3:03 in the video) who explained that their cousin Jessica was white because her hair was straight, even though she had a dark skin color. This reinforced the idea that people see others differently due to certain characteristics such as hair type in this case. I feel that these racial categories are very similar to many other countries as one assesses different factors to place one another into which race they fit. Even if one is mixed, another person may say they’re white or black due to which skin color they resemble the most. My favorite part of these interviews was when each individual was asked whether they would change the color of their skin. No one said that they would and they were happy with who they are which was very pleasant to see/hear.

    Question #6:
    This week’s key topic was something very relatable and so I liked that I was able to make connections with the reading. I’m used to people in my country thinking someone may be one race because of their skin tone, and I find others thinking I’m also a specific race because I’m brown. This isn’t uncommon however as most areas in the world tend to have their speculations and by identifying how Brazil compares to the U.S, definitely helped me see how they’re similar/different in some ways.

    • Hi Ilora,
      The ideology around the one drop rule classify mulattoes as black which was subject to the Jim Crow segregation. The practice of miscegenation was ignored due to the fact that they wanted to preserved and purify their “ whiteness” and engaged in racist fantasy against non-whites. This means that the one drop of blood rule was used to divided black and whites. It’s was a social practice that’s was used for racial classification. The mulattoes population was categories as black. Also, the reason as to why miscegenation was ignore and why white woman did not engaged with any form of intimacy with black men was because the white population was Afriad that the black population would over power them and they were concerned. Therefore, the one drop of blood rule was to preserve racial dominance.

  3. 1. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share? The PowerPoint is very clear as it explained a lot of the issues that Brazil is experiencing. It shows that the system brazil created prevents blacks from generating wealth and creates barriers that prevent blacks to have equal economic and social opportunities as to whites. I like the section of the PowerPoint that the problem of race and its conflicts is “rooted in the mind of men”. The issue of race is the problem of the 21 century and the slave trade. The theory of “white supremacy” divided mankind by biological characteristics which by which one’s physical feature would determine their intelligence. white supremacy because they were born biologically superior compared to those of non-whites.

    2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways? The main takeaway from the reading is that a person’s skin tone can be a structural barrier that can prevent upward mobility for that individual. The race relation issue that the black population is experiencing deepens in its historical roots of slavery. A person’s skin tone is a cornerstone of socioeconomic stratification between the black, light skin and white education and income. The black community still experience racial inequality, especially inequality in the distribution of social and economic opportunities. The economic interest of whites or lighter skin tone people is secure. Whereas, blacks are marginalized and placed at a disadvantage in society. The notion of beauty is tied to the color of your skin.

    3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions? The reading is very clear as it explains the race relation issue in Brazil and the United States. The discussion in class last week covers some of the main ideas that were mentioned in the reading. One’s life outcomes can be determined by how light or dark skin the person was. The system is a structure in a way that it prevents black from upward mobility and placed them in the cycle of poverty. Blacks faced structural barriers in the job market, income, criminal system, and education sectors. Being of light skin or white is like you were born with a gold spoon in your mouth because you have access to economic and social opportunities without any structural barriers.

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?

    Being black in Brazil is like a crime. Black people experience structural barriers that prevent them from living their full potential in life. Brazil represents a racial democracy because of its mixed population but in reality, Brazil blacks experience racism in their everyday life. Black had no legal law or policies that discriminated against blacks it portrays a more humanitarian practice and unity to show people that everyone is equal, Blacks were more likely to be killed by police and the system gives police the power to criminalized against black. Activists that would fight and be the voice for blacks and gays faced many obstacles especially politically. Brazil claims that racism is rare because there is no proof of laws or policies that encoded racism against black. Blacks’ basic rights were taken away from them by which they could not secure lands and education.

    5. How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?

    In the video, It shows the diversity within the family by displaying how each person of different skin color and how they categorized themselves and another Phenotypic characteristic that defined them in society. In South Africa and The United States, post- abolition race policy and repression were used to an enforced racial ideology which encoded legal discrimination which results in segregation and conflict among the race. Whereas, in Brazil’s structure, a system of social engineering Brazil was in the form of racial democracy. Brazil did not participate in any form of racial dominance and conflict instead Brazil created an image of racial democracy. due to the high degree of miscegenation in Brazil. Many blacks were given opportunities for social mobility for their children by mixing with whites. The lighter-skinned population had a better shot at economic mobility than darker skin because of their cross-mixing race. The practice of miscegenation was seen as whitening the Brazilian population and was celebrated as a social strength. Brazil constructed a more informal form of racial discrimination by structuring a hierarchy that places the black population at the bottom of society.

    6. Any general thoughts, comments, or questions you would like to share?

    In Brazil, the lighter-skinned tone population was treated differently and mothers that birth white or light skin children were known to have a blessed womb. It’s crazy how brazil portrayed a more form of racial democracy that all races are equal and welcome but yet still blacks struggle with upward mobility and were limited in society. What surprised me was when I found out that the Catholic Church held slaves and structure a status which was categorized by race and blacks were placed at the bottom of the pyramid in the distribution of income, access to education, and the job market. Even the Church in Brazil discriminates against black.

  4. 1.The PowerPoint presentation was clear. It was informative. It was interesting to see Theodore Roosevelt’s writing about Brazil. The discussion about the UNESCO study was cool. Learning about it in depth is informative and beneficial. The graphs were very well explained and helped analyze information.

    2.The reading discusses skin tone stratification. Explaining how the theory of colorism influences various communities, and how it effects society. The reading starts off with facts about a study that was done with African Americans. Explaining that colorism can cause inequality within communities, as well in societies. The reading focuses on the links, and outcomes of skin tone stratification. Also discussing racial discrimination, and how everything connects to one another, driving inequality within environments. The reading mentions that individuals (whites) treat African Americans differently based on their skin complexion. The reading states that the phenomenon of colorism has been occurring for a long time, tracing it back to the days of slavery. Claiming that lighter skinned individuals would have kinship ties with whites and that lighter skinned individuals were less African than darker toned individuals. In a way the lighter skinned were superior to the darker skinned. The reading explains that the racial disparities raise inequality, and that it happens because of the difference of light, medium, and dark-skinned tones. The reading also discusses that the Latinx community resembles the African American community when the topic of colorism emerges. Claiming that skin color is also a good predictor of where on the spectrum an individual will fall on. The theory is that the darker the person from the Latinx community is, the more the individual is likely to resemble the African American profile, and the whiter the person is, the more likely the person will resemble the profile of European ethnic groups.
    The reading also talks about the “one-drop rule”, which determines if your ancestry can be traced and find African ancestry. Then that person will be labeled and regarded as “black”, even though they are white. (Trace of African blood). The rule became an analytic lens within society. The reading explains that researchers often use the term “color”. “skin color”, when discussing race. Mentioning an article in the Journal of Latin American Studies by Thomas Skidmore. The article was titled Bi-Racial U.S.A vs Multi-racial Brazil: Is the Contrast Still Valid? Claiming that the US is going to be a racially bi-polar society. Due to the diversity of the population. Discussing the issue in both nations. Narrowing down the fact that in the US there is a rigid, ancestry-based dichotomy between blacks and whites. Comparing to Brazil, the difference is that Brazil is a multiracial society and has been a witness to the difference in skin color and skin tones. The reading then goes on to discuss categorization, and discrimination. Surveys of the US and Brazil (part II). Included 100in depth interviews, with 50 in in each country.

    3.The reading was clear. It explained many interesting factors about colorism, racism, discrimination.

    4.The video talks about colorism in Brazil, and what it means to be “black” in Brazil. The video gives us historic information that is important to colorism in Brazil. Stating that Brazil imported more slaves than any other country. Importing more than four million slaves. The video also informs us that Brazil was the last country to abolish slavery in 1888. The video also mentions that racism is specific in Brazil. The video mentions that Brazil struggles with racial democracy. Brazil did not consider the ancestry of people in brazil and led to movements that have made people pride of their identities. The video showcases Quilombos, which were the first black organization in Brazil. They established Quilombos communities. Discussing that Brazil did not have racial oriented policies. Which led to an inequality of accessing land, the labor market, and education for black people. People who were not able to read or write could not vote as well and it was mostly black people that could not have voted. Its discussed that immigration process played a major role in what is and has been occurring. The influence led to a whitewashed society. the people in charged decided that they needed more white people than black people. The brown population grew due to miscegenation. UNESCO wanted to analyze racial relations in Brazil. The study exposed the discrimination based on race in Brazil. Two movements were mentioned, the Frente Negra and the United Black Movement. These movements protested the myth of racial democracy. The video also discusses police brutality because of racism. The black community is mistreated, and experience hate crimes, such as the ones that occur in the United States.

    5.The video discusses the complex and ambiguous definition of what it is to be “black”. We see how it can be confusing and messy to define race and ethnicity backgrounds in Brazil. The video showcases the color stratification, and how it influences the minds and well being of individuals, and individuals that surround them. The video exposes how Brazil looks upon individuals who are dark, light, brown, and black. The family is a perfect example of colorism and how it shapes perspectives, and how the ambiguity of the definition influences the lives of many. To be honest, the family in the video did not look related to all. Not only the diversity of skin complexion, but other physical features seemed to separate the individuals, and gives us a glimpse of why it is confusing and messy to determine “race”. All family member had their own perspective on their own social identity. The video is associated with this week’s reading because they both demonstrate the importance of colorism, and color stratification. Both discuss the inequalities that is caused by negative stigmas. Both mention that colorism determines an individual’s wellbeing, social status, economic mobility, and many other factors, including social identity.

    6. Even though we all experience our daily struggles, regardless of race, ethnicities, and religious beliefs. This world truly has constructed negative stigmas that define certain individuals that may enable them to live a prosperous life. The stigmas create barriers and dismantle opportunities that individuals may have but denied because of colorism ideologies and pure racism. We see how these issues have dragged and drained societies of peace and equality. The derogatory concept of being treated better because of skin complexion is the old school way of thinking, we are now in the 21st century and its important we cut off and cancel that way of thinking. Let us not pass on the theory or the ideologies to future generations. We can be the ones to change that perspective, by teaching the youth differently. We can make sure that generations after us, have more opportunities and better outcomes. Teaching about colorism is a tool that can help expose the cruel reality and may also increase the chances of reformation. Teaching about the ugly practice can help eliminate it. This world really needs a lot of fixing, I always thought it was a dog eat dog world, but it seems like the more I learn, the more I realize that I knew nothing at all.

  5. 1. The PowerPoint was pretty much straight forward and clearly showing how Brazil operates as far as racism towards their Black peers. It was fairly simple to follow. It was interesting how Brazil had the whitening ideology of the late 19th century and early 20th century creating in their head what they thought would classify someone as white, which if you think about to the U.S did the same.
    2.The main takeaways from the reading were that Black people take up a huge part of the Brazilian population also show there are many different ways to classify as Black or white. It’s not just about skin color but the physical appearance as well. There is socioeconomic inequality within the black population based on skin tone as there is between Black and white. Depending on how you look and your skin tone the more exposure to racial discrimination you will get, people who have lighter skin tones will have more open doors rather than someone with darker skin. The difference between how the U.S and Brazil categorize race is that the U.S bases it on African American ancestry and Brazil bases it on someone’s makeup, physical composition, causing the many differences people have when it comes to identifying someone as a certain race.
    3. The reading was very informative but one thing I didn’t understand was that for me I would assume that the Latin culture should be included when it comes to being considered black. In the reading, they were not. I would also like some clarification when it comes to the one-drop rule, to me, it means that if you have even one resemblance to a Black person then you are considered to be Black. I know it has come up before in the last reading but I’m not sure if I’m on the right track as far as understanding it.
    4. The main take aways from the Vox video for me was how late in people’s lives were they able to identify as their true race. As one of the girls stated she knew she was black when they went to college because of the discrimination she faced. Racial issues were never spoken of in her family as well. A young boy as well learned by the time he was 18, he was forced to cut his hair until the age of 18 and that’s when he finally knew what his real hair was like. People in Brazil turn the other cheek when it comes to racism yet they discriminate with their policies towards Black people in Brazil. They take up to 56% of the population and they’re still being killed because of their skin color which sounds all too familiar.
    5. The second video relates to the reading because it shows how blackness is classified in Brazil and how differently people see it. For example, Jessica’s cousin Isabelle thinks she is white because of her hair and not mixed which is called “pardo”. Also when the little girl’s mother says her daughter is white when she herself is black but her daughter is considered white because her father is white. It was surprising because people that didn’t look white were considered to be white because of certain features such as their hair or facial features. From the video before blackness as a race was erased so people try to find the identity from the exterior point of view. Racial categories are similar to other countries that I know of such as the Dominican Republic where white people are offered more social mobility just because of how they look.
    6. It is interesting how people in Brazil think that there are only two different races which are Black and white. Although in the U.S there are plenty of different races to classify from we see this all the time. this is something people think about all the time when looking at someone. For example, I have a cousin whose complexion is pale, straight blond hair and green eyes, and has caucasian features. People that don’t know her automatically would think that she is white we tend to do this unconsciously.

  6. Q.1- From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?

    A.1- In terms of the presentation, at first I had a bit of trouble piecing all the ideas together regarding race and class struggle. By this I meant how they went hand in hand with each other which is what I believe another classmate also had trouble with. Although after going about each slide I was able to gain a better understanding of what you were trying to convey. The power point ended up doing a great job at breaking down the topic of race in Brazil compared to the United States. One thing I did find very saddening was how Brazil’s system functioned in the way that prevented those who were black from progressing in their lives.

    Q.2- From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?

    A.2- One of the major takeaways I grasped from this reading was how one’s status and treatment was often determined by how black they were. For example, skin tone and multiple other traits such as hair, nose, etc, all played a part in determine how black someone was in Brazil. Compared to the United States where it was just African Americans going up against whites, Brazil’s way of determining what you were was of how dark you were. This meant that the lighter you were, the more power and superiority you had in society.

    Q.3- From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?

    A.3- Based on the reading, I found everything to be very clear and interesting. Before this I had no clue this was how certain countries around the world determined race and implemented it towards their society. Its insane how someone’s life can easily be affected by their skin color and ancestry as if they were given a choice.

    Q.4- Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?

    A.4- The main takeaways I grasped from the video was how difficult life was when you’re black in Brazil. There were many limits that people of color had within Brazil. Things such “accessing lands, the labor market and education” were examples of what those were Black could not attain. This made it very difficult for life to progress within this country. Even those who could not read or write were restricted from voting. I found it very haunting how this system basically had people question who or what they were based on their skin and ancestry. One question I have though is if there are any people of color that were able to work their way through these limitations?

    Q.5- How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?

    A.5- This video relates to this week’s reading because it gives us an example of a family with mixed skin tones that will already give them, by default, different pathways in life. . For example, one of the family members referred to the negatives of being black which was automatically being classified due to the color of your skin. This would already determine what type of opportunities or struggles they will face in society. One thing I was happy to see was how confident they were in their skin and how they wouldn’t have it any other way, which shows how proud they are to be who they are. In my opinion, I find the racial categories to be a bit different in Brazil compared to other countries since they go by a system that simply determines your class based on the color of your skin. In other words, the lighter you are, the more than likely you are to have more opportunities. Other countries on the other hand is simply black against white where if you are someone of color you are automatically limited.

    Q.6- Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?

    A.6- I personally don’t have any other comments that are different from anyone else in the real world. All I have to say is that it is very saddening that the world has gone through and still continues to go through racial discrimination on multiple levels. Overall, no one should be placed better or less than anyone, but instead they should all be equals. Unfortunately, that won’t be easy for society to understand.

  7. 1. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?

    Everything from the PowerPoint was clear
    2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?
    The main takeaways from Ellis Monks reading is about colorism amongst African Americans and brazil population. So basically the lighter you are the better you are treated or the faster you make it through population. Even if a person is obviously black but carries a lighter complexion versus a much deeper complexion the lighter person would be more favored.

    3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
    Everything from the reading was clear.

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?
    The main takeaways from the vox video is basically pointing how colorism has affected a large number of people in brazil for example just like what happened in the U.S with the black lives matter protest, the same thing happened in brazil where I think 70 percent of people that were killed by police officers were black. The video highlights how being a certain skin color can affect or alter someone’s life.

    5. How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    The second video relates to this week’s reading by pointing out how the people of brazil view themselves. Some would consider themselves white, brown, black or pardo which means is mixed. Just like the reading the people of brazil also think being a certain color makes a difference in one’s life. For example, one person in the video thinks because he is lighter than his wife he makes it through life a bit better, just like what was stated in the reading. I think racial categories of brazil is very similar places in the Caribbean even here in the US. Especially when it comes in to the entertainment industry. I was recently reading something the other day where some, female artists felt as if lighter women tend to get way more, acknowledgement than women with darker complexions.

    6. Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?
    I have No comments or general questions.

  8. #1 From my powerpoint presentation, What isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share ?

    The presentation was very clear on how race and gender play important roles in equality in America and Brazil.
    The fact that the top 1% holds almost all of the wealth is insane. During slide 9 i was a little confused with the gross enrollment ratio being 43.3% yet in Latin America the top ten percent owns the wealth. Does tertiary education play a higher role in Latina America or does it not affect it as much as other countries? The graphs are really well in indicating the inequality amongst men and women in these latin American countries.

    #2 From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?

    In the Black population we see a social classification that isn’t fair and just to them in both Americas. The main takeaway I had gotten from Monk’s reading is that skin color plays such an important classifications on a person. It can literally be a barrier from Some Africans/ dark skinned Brazilians. In the text Monk states that “the darker a hispanic looks the more likely he or she will represent the demographics of an African American. The fact that the differences and similarities are so close although being in two different parts of the world is mind blowing. In Brazil, phenotypes are very diverse. People categorize themselves in many different ways. The social hierarchy that was placed in America for being “white” was established in Brazil during its early settlements. The systematic racism that follows for being dark skinned has close ties to how dark skinned people are treated in Brazil.

    #3From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
    The reading is very clear on how whites and blacks in Brazil are treated differently and also social and economical differences play a huge role based on race. It is a clear indication how this can show a reader how the U.S. and Brazil share similar qualities when it comes to race.

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?
    Brazil bringing over the largest amount of slaves than any other country is surprising but it being the last country to abolish slavery is even more surprising. People in Brazil “do not consider the ancestry of people when defining their race”, This can be motivating for people to not see themselves as black because of the racism it brings. A few takeaways I had gotten from this video was how badly Brazil wanted to make their society “whiter”. Specifically bringing people from Europe to Brazil to work. What we see now is that since the 1980’s there have been strides made in policies that favor black people. Another main takeaway that i had gained through this video was how much my eyes opened to racism amongst the world. The black lives matter movement in America has been increasing for several years but in Brazil people have been doing the same for just as long, maybe longer. Police brutality seems to lie the same on blacks in both countries.

    #5 How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    The second video relates to Monks reading especially during the part where phenotypes are described and how there are many different races. The mother identifies herself as black but her daughter identifies herself as brown. One person states how his black color puts weight on his back figuratively and a light skinned brazil states how they have never felt anything based on their color. These racial categories are very similar to America. In America I find the same things happening such as whites not feeling oppressed as much as many African American do. I think countries that take into account how much value phenotypes hold really create an oppression amongst those who suffer from it.
    This relates to the readings

    #6 Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?
    This week’s reading was very interesting because of the awareness it gave me in the afro latin community in Brazil. Where I am from (Bangladesh), I see how being more lighter skinned benefits people socially. It may not hold the same value as Brazil but it does hold it to a high standard. Watching the second video was interesting because Brazilian people declare themselves so many races even while being from the same family. I don’t see that happening in many other countries. It also feels like in Brazil, you face many hardships for being dark skinned which is ironic to me because they bought in the largest amount of slaves. This concept is so similar to what blacks and African Americans face in America through systematic racism and police brutality.

  9. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?
    This week PowerPoint was interesting. I understood the PowerPoint.

    From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main
    takeaways?
    The main takeaways from Ellis Monk’s reading: if you are lighter skin tone you have more benefits then someone with a darker skin tone. They receive similar treatments as black Americans.

    From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
    The reading was clear.

    Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways?
    Do you have any questions?
    -The main takeaway from Vox on race relations in Brazil, many people had an identity crisis. Some people didn’t know what race they classified as until their early adulthood. While watching this video was surprised to learn that people in Brazil have the same problem as Americans.

    How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    -The video was very interesting. I was surprised by some people that are in the same family and who may look the same would Identify themselves as different even if they had the same mother and father. Also the video talks about how if you have a lighter skin tone than you have more advantages than someone who has darker skin tone. This happened in Society, I was watching an interview that Tamera Mowry did talking about a racial moment that her sister and her Encountered where they wanted to be on a popular magazine at the time but couldn’t be on it because of their skin tone.

  10. 1. The powerpoint was clear. It was interesting to see how racial relations in Brazil look, especially since it has become minority white. This makes me think of projections I’ve seen that the US will become minority white by like 2050, and people thinking that this is going to solve some of the US’ racial. Brazil is a good reminder that just because a society is minority white, it doesn’t necessarily mean that people of color will be better off socioeconomically or that white won’t still benefits from systemic racism and racist institutions.
    2. The main takeaway of the reading is that color stratifies Black American socioeconomically. That is to say that the lighter one is within the Black community, then the better off that person is socioeconomically. Monk points out that this is also the case in Brazil and so the significance of skin color in the US is much closer to Brazil than previously thought. This phenomenon that Monk is referring to is colorism which she explains occurring as far back as slavery, where lighter skinned slaves where thought to have kinship ties with whites. Monk also talks about Brazil’s “racial ambiguity,” where a lot of people opt out choosing ethnoracial categories in the censuses, and instead simply choose Brazilian as their identity. Despite this ambiguity, it is clear that the darker the skin of an individual, the poorer they are indicating that race and color are very significant in determining the lives of individuals.
    3. The reading was very clear. I was just wondering if new census data since 2013 shows an increase in the amount of people who choose an ethnoracial category, rather than just “Brazilian”?
    4. The main takeaway from the video is that the myth of Brazil as a multiracial haven is in part due to the erasure of Black figures and narratives in the country that show that racism is very much alive, but that also led to many Blacks not identifying themselves as such. There were many policies in Brazil that blocked Black people in Brazil from receiving many benefits that their white counterparts received, and this myth of a racial democracy made difficult for Black people to fight against these policies. There has been a change for the best, with more Black people learning about their history and roots and big movement mobilizing to end racism in Brazil.
    5. This video basically showed what the reading and the Vox video mentioned, that racial identity can be a difficult thing even within one family. None of the people in the video identified as white, although some identified others as white, so it was very clear to them that they treated and seen different, but the problem started when deciding whether to identify themselves as Black because some thought of themselves as brown or were racialized by others as brown so had difficulty identifying themselves as Black. Others believed that if you aren’t white, then you are Black. I think racial categories in Brazil work very similar to the Dominican Republic, so I could not help but relate a lot with this video. In my own immediate family, we have very different skin tones so it can be difficult choosing a racial identity, but what we all agree on is that we are not white.
    6. This week was very interesting to me and I found myself thinking about my own race. Deciding what my race is something I’ve dealt, since I was a very young kids and it has changed a couple of times throughout the years because it can be very confusing. As a kid I simply thought of myself as mixed/mulatto, but I started disliking this term because it is often used by Dominicans as way to passionately claim that they are not Black. Dominicans are very clear to clarify that there are not Black and deny their Blackness, but do not do the same when it comes to their white ancestry. So I’ve found that mulatto is often used in anti-Black manner, and that coupled with how Black history/ancestry is erased plus how Black features are looked down upon and thought as ugly made me stay away from the term mulatto. Towards the end of high school, I started referring to myself as Afro-Latino as a way to embrace my Black heritage. However, I’ve started doubting whether I should use that term in the last couple of years. If you cannot interchange Afro-Latino with Black, then reality is that the term is simply not for you. I am never racialized by others as Black, so my experiences are not that of a Black man. I could relate a lot with the last video, because my middle brother and father are darker than me and are racialized as Black so they would be perfectly able of identifying themselves as Afro-Latino without anyone batting an eye. I think that to identify one-self as Black when your experiences are not that of a Black person, because others do not perceive you as such, is erasing the experiences of other Black people, and refusing to recognize your own privilege. Obviously, I’m not treated as a white person and have experienced colorism and racism, but in the same way in which a Black person would.

  11. 1. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?

    Can you please elaborate more on color-blind racism? It is the first time I have heard the term. Is it like when people say “I see no color”.
    You mentioned that after Obama was elected, many people denied racism exists in America and you are so correct. Although, I was very young when he was elected. I asked my mother and she told me all the racists went into hiding. Donald Trump was the flames, to a campfire. We were so different from Brazil. It seems that we are catching up.

    2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?

    My main takeaway from Ellis Monk’s reading is that race is something that is socially constructed. Race varies by culture, and it is integrated into ethnicity. It becomes confusing. He used brazil as an example, where Race and color are used intertangle. The race has “identifiers” and markers, but that also can vary. Are you considered black? If you look white but have 4c hair? Having certain features can make you appear a race you’re not or even skin color. As Monk explains race is based on ancestors, but many people’s ancestors are skewed like the people of brazil. Monk also talks about, colorism, he talks about colorism in black culture, he touched lightly on colorism in other cultures, such as the Japanese burakumin.

    3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?

    I understood the reading very much, even enjoyed it. I found myself thinking of the times, people were “colorist” or have shown racism to me.

    Why is lighter skin such a desirable trait? I understand it is not only the result of colonialism but of class structures in societies. But why do we continue to allow the mistreatment of people of color? Is it so integrated into our society that there is no room for change? Can there be change?

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?

    What I was able to grasp is that brazil as a country ignored the problem of racism. They had tried to erase their black history. Brazil tried to whiten the race. Racism comes in many forms, some is loud, some are quiet, but for Brazil their racism is systematic. Much of this racism stems from colonial times to the time of slavery. Slavery in brazil lasted for almost four centuries. As shown in the video, many people did not want to be associated with blackness and the ugly roots of slavery. Through the black revolution, many people were able to accept their blackness. But the current President of Brazil is ignoring the problem of racism, proclaiming not to see color.

    5. How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?

    The second video relates to reading because it shows that the people of Brazil, see race based on skin color, not on ancestorial origins. I did not find what any of the family said surprising, but it does baffle me how different race is based on the country you are from. A friend pointed out to me a long time ago, that difference between race, ethnicity, nationality is often not understood, or is very skewed. But what I realize, is that race is made up, where ethnicity is not. Within race lays history and many people do not like to talk about history.

    In my opinion, Brazil’s racial categories are not that different compared to the rest of the world. There seems to be little in-between. In America it is like that too, often if a person is mixed, they will be labeled as either black or white depending on their features. For example, although Vice-President-elect Kamala is both black and south Asian; a mixed-race person. I see a lot of people are saying she is not black or saying she is not Indian, and her features are somewhere in-between. Why is it hard for people to grasp that a person can be two races? Why does it have to be either-or?

    6. Any general thoughts, comments, or questions you would like to share?

    There is a book I have been itching to get my hands on, it is even o my Christmas list, the Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett. It is a perfect example, of colorism and racism. Two twin sisters, both are black, but one looks “white” and the other looks “black”. We see them as they grow up, and eventually their lives apart. A tale of race, sisterhood, and family. I believe this book is perfect for the topic of colorism, because answers the question that race is not a real thing, it is something that is socially constructed.

  12. 1. I feel like everything in the powerpoint was clear and I was able to grasp the material.
    2. The main takeaway from this reading would have to be how people’s experiences differ based on skin tone. Also on this, it was interesting to find out that even though in most areas in Brazil having dark skin is associated with negative things in both areas that are mostly white and Black, but in certain circumstances it is associated with positive characteristics, especially for men in the marital market (pg 19).
    3.I don’t have any questions.
    4. One of the main takeaways from this video was the concept of racial democracy. As described in the video, defining oneself as Black in Brazil was considered a political act because it allowed people to see how it affected their lives. Also, how it was difficult for people who identify as Black and embrace their history because its a target for discrimination.
    5. This video highlights the difficulties that people in Brazil have with identifying with race because of the conflicting issue with the different skin tones. The video specifically looked at members from the same family but they all identify differently based on the tone of their skin. It didn’t necessarily stand out but it was interesting the way people reason with what they identify with. Also, the little girl in the video had a different view of herself and considered herself brown while her mother described her as white. I feel like in general colorism is a big deal in a lot of countries that have a variety of skin tones, especially when looking at how it stemmed from considering outdated beauty standards that were taught in hate from people that colonized their lands.
    6. I have no questions or comments.

  13. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?
    Your powerpoint was pretty much clear, but I am a little confused on how racism is in Brazil. From your powerpoint I understood that during slavery, most slaves were taken to Brazil as opposed to other countries. In the data provided, I noticed that the percentages of white men and higher education has dropped throughout the years in Brazil. What I didn’t quite understand is if Brazil is still viewed as a racist country because of the history with slaves and abolishing it or are they not seen as a racist country anymore because of the change that was provided though the data?
    From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?
    The main takeaways from Monk’s reading is that skin color plays a big role on how a person is treated. Monk speaks about the mistreatment to colored people in both Americas and how this impacts how they are categorized in society. Also, Monk touches upon the fact that there are many different ways to identifies someone’s race and how they identify because of the diversity that is seen all around the world.
    From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
    Everything in the reading was clear and it was very informative. I can see how racial systems are alike and different in both the US and Brazil. One thing that I wasn’t too sure about was the way that they referred to Whites and Blacks. When spoken about them, do they include Latinos and other ethnicities into this or are they just going off of skin tone? The reason why I ask this is because there is a lot of diversity in many different countries and individuals won’t really know what they fall into.
    Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?
    The main takeaways of this video is the struggle that many Black people had to face in Brazil. This was very interesting to me because one of the girls in the video mentioned how she didn’t figure out that she was black until she was 27 years old and it was because of all the “whiteness” that she was around. They also mentioned racism by denial which explains that there are people who are racist, but think otherwise. This video was very interesting to watch because it gave personal examples from mixed people from Brazil which creates trust between the audience. I think these are problems that were typically ignored in Brazil and it surprises me that these individuals actually found out their true identity after they were adults.
    How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    The second video relates to this week’s reading because this was one of the main points that Monk’s made in her reading. Many individuals believe that there are only two races and tend to identify with either or, but in reality it is hard to tell because of the diversity. For example, the video shows ONE family with different skin tones and features. In this one family, some identify as white while others as black and mixed. It is very interesting to see things like this because it makes you compare it to your own family and see the diversity that there is all over the world. They also mentioned how being white puts you at a disadvantage in society and even if you are mixed and lighter than someone that identifies as black, you are still more advantaged as them. It compares to the reading because the author emphasizes how there are so many different ways to identify.
    Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?
    I enjoyed this weeks readings and the videos because it was something new that I learned and it was interesting. I was able to see how this topic compares to previous topics that we have discussed previously.

  14. 1.From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share?
    The powerpoint presentation shows that Brazil had a similar ideology of what the model person should look like as to the United States in terms of beauty standards as well. Propaganda in Brazil was focused on character traits, phenotypic traits, and not race like the United States. I also find it interesting that now Brazil has more Black/Brown individuals than any other race, maybe this is why most of Brazil’s population is starting to protest for the equal rights of all citizens.

    2. From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways?
    From Ellis Monk’s reading the main takeaways are that darker toned individuals suffer from systematic racism till this day due to rules and systems created years ago; while lighter-toned individuals are treated opposite. Monk also discusses the differences between the United States and Brazil; While the United States standard of a person is derived from slavery, Brazil uses phenotypic traits to determine a persons “value”/“status”. This means, how big a person’s nose is, their skin tone, their height, etc.
    In Monks reading I also learned another word for the light skin versus black skin dispute and it is stratification.

    3. From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?
    The reading was clear but I found it very interesting and sad how Brazil’s standards for an individual are based on phenotypic traits. The fact that most of its population is dark skinned persons yet they are discriminated against for having larger noses and different hair textures is alarming to me. How does a single race hold that much power (the white race). Although it is not based on slavery like the United States, the features that are glorifies match those of anglosaxon traits.

    4. Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions?
    Based on the first video from Vox, I learned that Brazil identifies themselves as a multiracial country and has standards that are phenotypic based. In Brazil, policies were made in order to hinder Black individuals from getting higher education, better jobs, and from owning property. owning land, education, and work. Due to this Black individuals were discriminated against for not having access to the same things that light skinned individuals have access too. My question is, if the Black population is the majority how did their beauty standards and oppression continue on for so long of Black individuals?

    5.How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    The second video relates to this week’s reading because it shows the important role that skin color plays for all individuals. It shows that although a person might see themselves as Black, in someone else’ eyes they could be white or brown (vice versa). In the video a woman said that her cousin was white due to her hair being a straight texture; Although the women had a dark skin complexion. The racial categories in Brazil are different from Puerto Rican racial categories because PR matches those of western beliefs which root back from European/ African history, while Brazil is based on character specific traits.

    6. Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?
    I think it is interesting how Brazil translates their beauty ideologies and overall model person ideologies. Although they do not have the same view of racism like we do they have a similar system that is translated to have the same outcome. Persons in Brazil of dark skin complexion and certain character traits such as big noses would be viewed as being Black/brown in America.

  15. 1. The PowerPoint was clear to understand. It was interesting to hear about the sociology background because it’s a personal experience. On slide 7, I found it fascinating how even if everyone is equal, there are going to be differences because of the generational discrimination of people of color. They will still suffer the consequences of not being treated equally. The years of not having the same in terms of opportunity and being treated differently from other people can make people of color have a difficult life. This comment on the slide was intriguing because when we think of making everyone equal, we don’t think about the damages that have already been made to last for generations.

    2.The main take away was people are treated differently based on their skin color. In Brazil, they look at skin color as different because they category black people according to their physical features. Stratification the term used in the article to explain how people will have a more difficult experience with a greater chance of living in poverty. The U.S. is different from brazil because they believe in the ideology of one dropped rule where if you had one ancestor who was black, the person is considered black. In brazil is more about what people see rather than your family history.

    3.The reading was clear. I learned a lot about Brazil, which I never get to hear much before this class. I found the difference between Brazil and the U.S. was interesting in regards to slavery. The reading gave me a lot more insight into how other countries view people of color.

    4.The video main takes away was explaining how black people life was so difficult. Slavery ending much more later than countries such as the united states created more challenges. Black people did not have a movement to advocate for themselves as being people. Black people are treated so poorly a large portion of the people were killed by police officers.

    5. The second video does relate to the reading because it talks about how confusing it is in brazil to explain race. In Brazil, the skin features you have tells if you are black or white. The video went over how it will also be different based on who the person is asking about race. The reading and the video do go over the missed opportunities people of color have more than those how are considered white. This system, I believed, is also very commonly used in Latin countries because I know in the Dominican Republic, we do classify race the same.

    6. This lecture was quite interesting to learn about, the videos put in a lot of perspectives for how much the people of color in brazil have gone through.

  16. From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share? The presentation was clear to me, it explained many historical points on the topic of colorism and racism as a whole, such as reasons why Brazil may display such ideology on whites and blacks’ position on the hierrchal ladder. It also brought up new points from important historical readings which seem relevant to Monk’s reading such as the importance of socio economics versus racism, the denial of colorism and racism even existing. And other events that played a significant part in the development of the outlook on the topic of racism and colorism.
    From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways? Ellis Monk’s reading really focused on demonstrating to the reader the idea of the interchangeable use of race and skin color. As well as racism amongst blacks themselves and the stratification of blacks through the categorization of light skinned, medium dark and then dark skin. The lighter skin toned people much like whites are given more opportunities to be successful in society as a whole..It is saddening because not only is it wrong to treat people unfairly because of the color of their skin but now those being oppressed become oppressors as well and lose connection with their roots by disowning that part of their identity and becoming ashamed or embarrassed of it.
    From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions? The reading was clear, I feel that the author made it a point to repeat its main point consecutively and support it through research .The reading was very interesting to me because it provided a point of view I was not aware of or just never put much thought into. The reading explained the reality of colorism and for the most part on social media and other streams of communication racism is seen amongst blacks and whites but the reading brought light into this new idea to me on racism amongst one group and the existence of subdivisions in this group.
    Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions? The video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, explains more of the historical background of the white washing that goes on in Brazil as did the lecture and how it is displayed in society. Another takeaway from the video is the ignorance or denial of its existence. Instead of acknowledging that colorism is real the idea of socioeconimics comes up and the weight of racism is placed on that, though we have seen that in reality it does not play as big of a role as race does in its effects it has on how society treats you.
    How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know? The second video is relevant to the reading in the sense that it demonstrates

  17. 1.From my PowerPoint presentation, what isn’t clear? Any thoughts or comments you would like to share? The powerpoint was clear, interesting and informative. I like that I can go back and forth both the powerpoint and the videos because I have a better understanding now watching the film because I can see how the United states relates to Brazil’s situation. Both countries are racist and lack a lot of people with awareness to this matter. People are only powerful if they are rich or white.
    2.From Ellis Monk’s reading, what are the main takeaways? Yes the reading was enjoyable and I learned a lot. I still feel awful about people’s way of defining a human being based on their skin tone.
    3.From the reading, is everything clear? Do you have any questions?Based on the first video from Vox on race relations in Brazil, what are the main takeaways? Do you have any questions? That the democracy in Brazil is based on race. They have tries to clean their population by whitening the people by mixing white and blacks so that their children are of a lighter color when born. Brazil also defines race only as people’s skin color not so much based on background.
    5.How does the second video relate to this week’s reading? Did you find any of this surprising? In your opinion, how are racial categories in Brazil different or similar to that of other countries you know?
    – Everytime i learn about the way people treat people of color it surprises me to see the cruelty and ignorance that still exists. Brazil is a 3rd world country still bottleting pobrecy and the lack of resources to work and go to school is a big downside to this beautiful country. Racism it’s something affecting every country I have studied so far. I call it the never ending disease.
    6. Any general thoughts, comments or questions you would like to share?It is just insane how people base their humanity on things they are taught, I get that when we are small people can manipulate us, but ignorance is a choice once you are older. This is cruel and sad to witness. A person does not stop to be a human being because of their skin tone. It is just bazzard to think this way. Education is now free on youtube as i watched this video i don’t understand how people have not seen it.

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