The History of the African Diaspora in Brazil

     Welcome to the first real post (one that doesn't have to do with Kenny Loggins) on my new blog. Throughout the course of the semester I will be updating it regularly, bringing you a perspective on Brazil that you won't be able to find in a Frommer book.  For the sake of new beginnings, let's slow down and start simple.
     I chose the nation of Brazil for our AFRST-221 Roots and Reach project because it is a country on the rise and will have a thunderous impact in tomorrow's world.  Rich with resources and a booming population, Brazil will hold many cards in the years to come as an emerging international player.  Brazil is also pertinent to the topics of our class discussion because it was a member of the Atlantic slave trade and people of African descent have had much to do in shaping the nation's current racial mix and societal norms.

  

(http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/brazil.html)

     Africans slaves were first introduced to Brazil in the 17th century during the colonial period after Indian slavery was found to be too difficult to maintain.  Despite the lucrative nature of the business, slavery slowed around 1850 due to a British blockade of the nautical slave trade routes.

     Italians, Japanese, Middle Eastern immigrants all mixed in soon after and over time many Brazilian individuals became difficult to racially classify.  By 1991, 55.3% of Brazilians identified with being white, 39.3% with being mulatto, 4.9% with being black, and 0.6% with being Asian (LCCS).

     Brazil is known for being an extremely racially tolerant nation and has well established laws that strictly prohibit racial discrimination.  However, racism manifests itself in "unwritten rules, unspoken attitudes, references to 'good appearance' rather than color, or simply placing higher value on individuals who are white or nearly white" (LCCS).

     Currently, Brazil is a major trade partner with African states, exporting and importing with them.  South African investors hold a large stake in the Brazilian mining industry as well.

For your enjoyment, please check out the pictures of Brazil below:

 

 Carnival, Brazil: Samba schools parading towards the bird-shaped Sambodrome icon during Carnival.

Viviane Ponti - Lonely Planet Photographer © Copyright Lonely Planet Images 2011

 

Iguacu Falls, Brazil: Iguacu Falls, looking toward Garganta do Diablo (Devil's Throat), and Rio Iguacu. 

Craig Pershouse - Lonely Planet Photographer © Copyright Lonely Planet Images 2011

 

Statue, Corcovado, Brazil: Christ the Redeemer statue, Corcovado.

Judy Bellah - Lonely Planet Photographer © Copyright Lonely Planet Images 2011

 Sources:

1.) Library of Congress Country Studies: Brazil URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/brtoc.html

2.) Map of Brazil URL: http://i.infoplease.com/images/mbrazil.gif

3.) Photos from Brazil URL: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/images