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The irony is that most Black or African Americans are of mixed heritage, yet many feel that they must self-identify as such in spite of the erasure of significant parts of their roots or family trees. I understand it to a degree, but I sincerely think is up to each person to decide how he or she chooses to self-identify. Because of my upbringing, culturally I identify as Black, yet I also have a lot of respect and enjoy exploring my Native American or indigenous roots, as well as my Irish and Latino/a roots. This does not make me a sell out. It simply means that I am aware and not willing to sacrifice any of my roots or my ancestry in accordance with socially-constructed systems of racial identity.
Back to the thread... How does this play out in Brazil? Are there different variations of racial identity or labeling for people of mixed heritages but who seem to have gotten a huge dose of their genetic pools from Africa?
Yes. Especially in areas such as Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Ceara, etc, in the Northeast, that have large black/mixed populations, there are literally hundreds of descriptive categories and terms. In Bahia, which is the "blackest" state in Brazil, many people have developed a level of race consciousness and sense of Pan African identity. There, some people who are considered mixed will unabashedly describe themselves as preto or africano. In other areas, self-perception and nomenclature are different......
A Brazilian friend of mine once came to the United States and asked, "Why do Black Americans talk differently than White Americans?" Hmmm ...
Hmmmm. have you realized white Americans have different accents as well? Black Americans generally sound closer to southerners than northerners.......hmmmmm
Hmmmm. have you realized white Americans have different accents as well? Black Americans generally sound closer to southerners than northerners.......hmmmmm
Yes. Especially in areas such as Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Ceara, etc, in the Northeast, that have large black/mixed populations, there are literally hundreds of descriptive categories and terms. In Bahia, which is the "blackest" state in Brazil, many people have developed a level of race consciousness and sense of Pan African identity. There, some people who are considered mixed will unabashedly describe themselves as preto or africano. In other areas, self-perception and nomenclature are different......
What's wrong with that? If they claim anything else, some moron will be quick to call them black, or racial slur. I think it's awesome they are taking pride with the color of their skin and tracking their roots back to Africa. After all man originated from Africa.
Let's not forget Latino/Hispanic is a made up racial group, but you don't see people questioning that!
What's wrong with that? If they claim anything else, some moron will be quick to call them black, or racial slur. I think it's awesome they are taking pride with the color of their skin and tracking their roots back to Africa. After all man originated from Africa.
Let's not forget Latino/Hispanic is a made up racial group, but you don't see people questioning that!
Never said anything was wrong with that, just an observation. What in my language led you to think otherwise?
Other than that, I am not sure I get your point here. Everyone should take pride in their ancestry.......with African Brazilians it is easy to identify with what is true, and Africa is everywhere in this part of Brazil. Calling someone who is black black is not moronic; using a racial slur for any human is. BTW, many people question the existence of Latino/Hispanic as a group; furthermore, it is not a racial group at all.
Yep. I think so too. People from America and may see people of different shades of colors interacting on the streets and say, "Wow. Racial tensions are better here than the U.S." But that's a naive way of analyzing things. I see men and women interacting on the streets, but does that mean sexism is low, or non-existent? Brazil has a laidback culture, and when people are busy getting off the sun, the tropical air, the scenery, the women, and the smiles they'll overlook all the horrible social problems that exist in that country.
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