"Official Multiculturalism" and transformations of Historical Consciousness in Brazil

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In this project, we intended to know recent situation relating to the social movements of African-Brazilians (African Descendents in Brazil) against racial discrim in ations and the turn of the official policies to promote racial and ethnic equality. From 1980s on, several governments in Latin America began to adopt "multiculturalism" as an official policy, so it has been called "Official Multiculturalism." The main issues are as following : (1)The 1988 Constitution and debates on racial and ethnic minorities and promotion of their rights ; (2)Structure and activities of Palmares Cultural Foundation of Ministry of Culture ; (3)Social background of "official multiculturalism," especially relation between advent of black middle class and movements of African descendents ; (4)Influence of multiculturalism on education at the primary and secondary schools.Regarding to the issues (1)and (3), apparently the official policy of promoting racial and ethnic equality has developed, and I discussed that development in a wider context of new social movement in Brazil. On the issue (4), I presented ideas and actual situation of education on history in the schools in an article analyzing school textbook on History in Brazil.I visited Brazil each year to make fieldwork. I interviewed various persons, including policymakers of the Federal, State, and Municipal Governments, and activists of Black Movement. I attached to the final report of this project a DVD in which is recorded an interview with Mr.Abdias do Nascimento, founder of Black Experiment Theater (TEN) from 1940s to 1960s and former deputy and senator of national Congress.