Theorizing Race in the Americas : Douglass, Sarmiento, Du Bois, and Vasconcelos

In 1845 two thinkers from the American hemisphere - the Argentinean statesman Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and the fugitive ex-slave, abolitionist leader, and orator from the United States, Frederick Douglass - both published their first works. Each would become the most famous and enduring texts in what were both prolific careers, and they ensured Sarmiento and Douglass' position as leading figures in the canon of Latin American and U.S. African-American political thought, respectively. But despite the fact that both deal directly with key political and philosophical questions in the Americas, Douglass and Sarmiento, like African-American and Latin American thought more generally, are never read alongside each other. This may be because their ideas about race differed dramatically. Sarmiento advocated the Europeanization of Latin America and espoused a virulent form of anti-indigenous racism, while Douglass opposed slavery and defended the full humanity of black persons. Still, as Juliet Hooker contends, looking at the two together allows one to chart a hemispheric intellectual geography of race that challenges political theory's preoccupation with and assumptions about East / West comparisons, and questions the use of comparison as a tool in the production of theory and philosophy. By juxtaposing four prominent nineteenth and twentieth-century thinkers - Frederick Douglass, Domingo F. Sarmiento, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Jos� Vasconcelos - her book will be the first to bring African-American and Latin American political thought into conversation. Hooker stresses that Latin American and U.S. ideas about race were not developed in isolation, but grew out of transnational intellectual exchanges across the Americas. In so doing, she shows that nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. and Latin American thinkers each looked to political models in the 'other' America to advance racial projects in their own countries. Reading these four intellectuals as hemispheric thinkers, Hooker foregrounds elements of their work that have been dismissed by dominant readings, and provides a crucial platform to bridge the canons of Latin American and African-American political thought. In 1845 Two Thinkers From The American Hemisphere--the Argentinean Statesman Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, And The Fugitive Ex-slave, Abolitionist Leader, And Orator From The United States, Frederick Douglass--both Published Their First Works. Each Would Become The Most Famous And Enduring Texts In What Were Both Prolific Careers, And They Ensured Sarmiento And Douglass' Position As Leading Figures In The Canon Of Latin American And U.s. African-american Political Thought, Respectively. But Despite The Fact That Both Deal Directly With Key Political And Philosophical Questions In The Americas, Douglass And Sarmiento, Like African-american And Latin American Thought More Generally, Are Never Read Alongside Each Other. This May Be Because Their Ideas About Race Differed Dramatically. Sarmiento Advocated The Europeanization Of Latin America And Espoused A Virulent Form Of Anti-indigenous Racism, While Douglass Opposed Slavery And Defended The Full Humanity Of Black Persons.^ Still, As Juliet Hooker Contends, Looking At The Two Together Allows One To Chart A Hemispheric Intellectual Geography Of Race That Challenges Political Theory's Preoccupation With And Assumptions About East/west Comparisons, And Questions The Use Of Comparison As A Tool In The Production Of Theory And Philosophy. By Juxtaposing Four Prominent Nineteenth And Twentieth-century Thinkers--frederick Douglass, Domingo F. Sarmiento, W.e.b. Du Bois, And José Vasconcelos--her Book Will Be The First To Bring African-american And Latin American Political Thought Into Conversation. Hooker Stresses That Latin American And U.s. Ideas About Race Were Not Developed In Isolation, But Grew Out Of Transnational Intellectual Exchanges Across The Americas. In So Doing, She Shows That Nineteenth And Twentieth-century U.s. And Latin American Thinkers Each Looked To Political Models In The 'other' America To Advance Racial Projects In Their Own Countries.^ Reading These Four Intellectuals As Hemispheric Thinkers, Hooker Foregrounds Elements Of Their Work That Have Been Dismissed By Dominant Readings, And Provides A Crucial Platform To Bridge The Canons Of Latin American And African-american Political Thought-- Introduction: Race Theory And Hemispheric Juxtaposition -- Part I. Ambas Américas -- 1. A Black Sister To Massachusetts : Latin America And The Fugitive Democratic Ethos Of Frederick Douglass -- 2. Mi Patria De Pensamiento : Sarmiento, The United States, And The Pitfalls Of Comparison -- Part Ii. Mestizo Futurologies -- 3. To See, Foresee, And Prophesy : Du Bois' Mulatto Fictions And Afro-futurism -- 4. A Doctrine That Nourished The Hopes Of The Non-white Races : Vasconcelos, Mestizaje's Travels, And U.s. Latino Politics. Juliet Hooker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In 1845 two thinkers from the American hemisphere--the Argentinean statesman Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and the fugitive ex-slave, abolitionist leader, and orator from the United States, Frederick Douglass--both published their first works. Each would become the most famous and enduring texts in what were both prolific careers, and they ensured Sarmiento and Douglass' position as leading figures in the canon of Latin American and U.S. African-American political thought, respectively. But despite the fact that both deal directly with key political and philosophical questions in the Americas, Douglass and Sarmiento, like African-American and Latin American thought more generally, are never read alongside each other. This may be because their ideas about race differed dramatically. Sarmiento advocated the Europeanization of Latin America and espoused a virulent form of anti-indigenous racism, while Douglass opposed slavery and defended the full humanity of black persons. Still, as Juliet Hooker contends, looking at the two together allows one to chart a hemispheric intellectual geography of race that challenges political theory's preoccupation with and assumptions about East/West comparisons, and questions the use of comparison as a tool in the production of theory and philosophy. By juxtaposing four prominent nineteenth and twentieth-century thinkers--Frederick Douglass, Domingo F. Sarmiento, W.E.B. Du Bois, and José Vasconcelos--her book will be the first to bring African-American and Latin American political thought into conversation. Hooker stresses that Latin American and U.S. ideas about race were not developed in isolation, but grew out of transnational intellectual exchanges across the Americas. In so doing, she shows that nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. and Latin American thinkers each looked to political models in the 'other' America to advance racial projects in their own countries. Reading these four intellectuals as hemispheric thinkers, Hooker foregrounds elements of their work that have been dismissed by dominant readings, and provides a crucial platform to bridge the canons of Latin American and African-American political thought"-- Provided by publisher In 1845 two thinkers from the American hemisphere - the Argentinean statesman Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and the fugitive ex-slave, abolitionist leader, and orator from the United States, Frederick Douglass - both published their first works. Each would become the most famous and enduring texts in what were both prolific careers, and they ensured Sarmiento and Douglass' position as leading figures in the canon of Latin American and U.S. African-American political thought, respectively. But despite the fact that both deal directly with key political and philosophical questions in the Americas, Douglass and Sarmiento, like African-American and Latin American thought more generally, are never read alongside each other. This may be because their ideas about race differed dramatically. Sarmiento advocated the Europeanization of Latin America and espoused a virulent form of anti-indigenous racism, while Douglass opposed slavery and defended the full humanity of black persons. Still, as Juliet Hooker contends, looking at the two together allows one to chart a hemispheric intellectual geography of race that challenges political theory's preoccupation with and assumptions about East / West comparisons, and questions the use of comparison as a tool in the production of theory and philosophy. By juxtaposing four prominent nineteenth and twentieth-century thinkers - Frederick Douglass, Domingo F. Sarmiento, W. E. B. Du Bois, and José Vasconcelos - her book will be the first to bring African-American and Latin American political thought into conversation. Hooker stresses that Latin American and U.S. ideas about race were not developed in isolation, but grew out of transnational intellectual exchanges across the Americas. In so doing, she shows that nineteenth and twentieth-century U.S. and Latin American thinkers each looked to political models in the 'other' America to advance racial projects in their own countries. Reading these four intellectuals as hemispheric thinkers, Hooker foregrounds elements of their work that have been dismissed by dominant readings, and provides a crucial platform to bridge the canons of Latin American and African-American political thought. Four prominent 19th and 20th-century US African-American and Latin American intellectuals - Frederick Douglass and Domingo F. Sarmiento, and W.E.B. Du Bois and Jose Vasconcelos - have never been read alongside each other. Although these thinkers addressed key political and philosophical issues in the Americas, political theorists have yet to compare their ideas about race. By juxtaposing these thinkers, 'Theorizing Race in the Americas' takes up the opportunity to bring African-American and Latin American political thought into conversation, and in turn, maps a genealogy of racial theory throughout the hemisphere Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Race Theory and Hemispheric Juxtaposition Part I: Ambas Américas 1. “A Black Sister to Massachusetts”: Latin America and the Fugitive Democratic Ethos of Frederick Douglass 2. “Mi Patria de Pensamiento”: Sarmiento, the United States, and the Pitfalls of Comparison Part II: Mestizo Futurisms 3. “To See, Foresee, and Prophesy”: Du Bois’s Mulatto Fictions and Afro- Futurism 4. “A Doctrine that Nourished the Hopes of the Nonwhite Races”: Vasconcelos, Mestizaje’s Travels, and US Latino Politics Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index