Against Racism: Organizing for Social Change in Latin America (Pitt Latin American Series)

Powerful narratives often describe Latin American nations as fundamentally mestizo. These narratives have hampered the acknowledgment of racism in the region, but recent multiculturalist reforms have increased recognition of Black and Indigenous identities and cultures. Multiculturalism may focus on identity and visibility and address more casual and social forms of racism, but can also distract attention from structural racism and racialized inequality, and constrain larger antiracist initiatives. Additionally, multiple understandings of how racism and antiracism fit into projects of social transformation make racism a complex and multifaceted issue. The essays in Against Racism examine actors in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico that move beyond recognition politics to address structural inequalities and material conflicts and build common ground with other marginalized groups. The organizations in this study advocate an approach to deep social structural transformation that is inclusive, fosters alliances, and is inspired by a radical imagination. "Anti-racist movements and organizations are working on the ground in Latin America in explicit ways, but also with "alternative grammars," to combat racism in society. Powerful narratives that describe Latin American nations as fundamentally mestizo can hamper the acknowledgement of racism in the region, but multiculturalist reforms have increased recognition of Black and Indigenous identities and cultures. However, these reforms can distract attention from structural racism and racialized inequality. Multiculturalism may focus on identity and visibility but in fact constrain larger anti-racist initiatives. This project looks at actors in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico that move beyond such recognition politics to address structural inequalities and material conflicts, and look to build common ground with other marginalized groups. Racism in Latin America is complex and multifaceted. The organizations in this study advocate an approach to deep social structural transformation that is inclusive, fosters alliances, and is inspired by a radical imagination"-- Provided by publisher

Powerful narratives often describe Latin American nations asfundamentally mestizo. These narratives have hampered theacknowledgment of racism in the region, but recent multiculturalistreforms have increased recognition of Black and Indigenousidentities and cultures. Multiculturalism may focus on identity andvisibility and address more casual and social forms of racism, butcan also distract attention from structural racism and racializedinequality, and constrain larger antiracist initiatives.Additionally, multiple understandings of how racism and antiracismfit into projects of social transformation make racism a complexand multifaceted issue. The essays in Against Racismexamine actors in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico that movebeyond recognition politics to address structural inequalities andmaterial conflicts and build common ground with other marginalizedgroups. The organizations in this study advocate an approach todeep social structural transformation that is inclusive, fostersalliances, and is inspired by a radical imagination.

Contents Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction | Peter Wade and Mónica G. Moreno Figueroa 1. The Formation of Mestizo Nations | Fernando García, Antonio Sérgio Guimarães, Emiko Saldívar, and Mara Viveros-Vigoya 2. Anti-Racism, Intersectionality, and the Struggle for Dignity | Mónica G. Moreno Figueroa and Mara Viveros-Vigoya 3. Bodily Anti-Racism: What Bodies Can "Do" to Contest Racism in Public Spaces | Krisna Ruette-Orihuela 4. Territory and Anti-Racism | Peter Wade 5. Upward Mobility, Professionalization, and Anti-Racism | Gisela Carlos-Fregoso 6. Giving Meaning to Racial Justice: Symbolic Uses of Law in Anti-Racist Struggles | María Moreno 7. Anti-Racism in Mestizo Societies | Peter Wade Conclusion | Mónica G. Moreno Figueroa and Peter Wade Appendix Notes References Index