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Learning Objectives
By the end of the chapter, the student will be able to do the following:
- Compare and contrast racialization, racial inequalities, and present-day racial hierarchies in France, South Africa, and Brazil.
- Explain some racial policies used in France, South Africa, and Brazil.
- Depict race and racism in a global sense and how it relates to empire and colonization.
- Explain the legacy of apartheid in South Africa.
- Explain the idea of racial democracy on Brazil.
- Explain the impact of colorblind policies in France.
Chapter Summary
The social construction of race is further reinforced by examining other countries’ racial hierarchies and classification systems and how they were formed through unique histories. France, South Africa, and Brazil all offer different pictures of life experiences all impacted by the dynamics of race. Unique sets of factors create enormous inequalities for people of color in these countries. Frequent police brutality against people of color and newer immigrants characterize the actions of law enforcement in France. There are small amounts of undocumented immigrants in France compared to the U.S. Immigrant families in France live in impoverished public housing called banlieues. In South Africa, Apartheid forced blacks to live in homelands (13% of the country’s land area). The unemployment rate in these homelands continues to be high at 75%. Many South African blacks work away from the homelands and send money home. Even after apartheid ended in 1994, South Africa continues to face extreme poverty for black people. France does not take a census based on race, and newer immigrants remain at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder without political representation. Brazil just recently applied affirmative action for applicants of universities, but still does not address institutional racism in other sectors of life. There is also physical separation and segregation with banlieues in France, homelands in South Africa, and favelas in Brazil. Brazil historically aimed to whiten the population as a formal policy. Racial classification in Brazil also depends on outward appearance rather than ancestry. Although some changes in racial ideologies have occurred, and small black middle classes have developed in each country, racial inequalities continue.