Contributed by Apoliana da Conceição

RACE IN BRAZIL REPRESENTED IN ALUÍSIO AZEVEDO’S MULATTO

How does literature represent society? Our lives? An era? To what extent is the depiction accurate? There is no better way to answer these questions than analyzing what we already have available as great written literature. In this case, we talk about the novel Mulatto by Aluísio Azevedo, written in 1881; it shows the complex dynamics of race in Brazil during the pre-abolition era. It serves as a window into the perceptions of race both then and now, raising questions about how Brazilian society has historically battle with racial identity. Set seven years prior to the abolition of slavery and the establishment of the first republic, Mulatto follows Raimundo’s journey—a young Brazilian wrestling with his mixed heritage and liberal ideals in the face of a provincial and bigoted society. Examining XIX century Brazil through the lens of Mulatto allows for an understanding of contemporary race relations in XXI century Brazil. What are the differences and similarities? Despite temporal and social shifts, parallels can be drawn between the racial dynamics depicted in the novel and those present in modern Brazil. By exploring the historical context of race in Brazil and its representation in literature, we gain insights into the continuity and evolution of racial perceptions and inequalities over time. A comparative analysis of past and present reveals the enduring complexities of race in Brazilian society, highlighting the importance of addressing historical legacies and contemporary challenges in understanding racial views in Brazil and how and why the assimilation of the predominant U.S. view of race impacts today’s Brazilian society.

 

Contributed by Apoliana da Conceição dos Santos

During the César J. Ayala Workshop on the Comparative Study of Race in the Americas, Professor Ayala illuminated the nuanced nature of racism, emphasizing its variation across different regions. He underscored the ineffectiveness of importing U.S. racism into other contexts, highlighting the unique manifestations of racism in each country. Through thought-provoking questions, he prompted attendees to reflect on the nature of racism and white supremacy in our respective homelands. Professor Ayala’s presentation went through popular concepts such as systemic racism, institutional racism, structural racism, and white supremacy, offering empirical insights and comparative analyses of scholarships. Drawing on studies of racial inequality in Puerto Rico, he provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics at play. Particularly interesting to me were his references to Brazilian perspectives on race, exemplified by the documentary Preto X Branco, which contrasts with American views. Additionally, his recommendation of Edward Telles’ book Race in Another America: The Significance of Skin Color in Brazil further enriched the discourse, offering deeper insights into the complexities of race in the Americas.

In conclusion, it is evident that racism manifests differently across various regions. Importing U.S. racism does not alter the underlying realities of one’s own country. Questions such as ‘What is racism like in your country?’ and ‘What is white supremacy in your country?’ prompt us to consider the unique socio-cultural contexts shaping these phenomena. Furthermore, education correlates with increased awareness of one’s racial identity. Ultimately, acknowledging these complexities is essential for fostering meaningful dialogue and enacting positive change.

 

Contributed by Charles R. Venator Santiago

We are currently conducting a search for a senior scholar with a joint appointment in the Department of Sociology and El Instituto. Three finalists will visit our campus on February 7^th (Professor Salvador Vidal-Ortiz, American University), February 9^th (Marta Maldonado, Oregon State University), and February 12^th (Elizabeth M. Aranda, University of South Florida). Feel free to contact El Instituto’s general email (elinstituto@uconn.edu) if you want to join the following job talks:

Friday, February 9: Marta Maldonado (3:30 PM)	Job Title Talk: Uno Se Las Arregla’: Latinos Managing Precarity on the Oregon Coast
Monday, February 12: Elizabeth M. Aranda (3:30 PM)	Job Title Talk: You Can’t Have It All, There Is Always a Give and Take: Post-Disaster Migrants’ Return to Puerto Rico

Contributed by Charles R. Venator-Santiago

The Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education (CALAHE) will celebrate its annual conference on April 26, 2024, on the UConn Storrs Campus. The conference theme is: Navigating the Political Landscape for Latino/as in Higher Education: Smoke and Mirrors. Please visit their website for more information: https://calahedotorg.wordpress.com/ El Instituto and the Puerto Rican Studies Initiative are supporting this event.

Contributed by Charles R. Venator-Santiago

As I noted in the previous issue of La Voz, for more than 3-years the leadership of the NDOUs has debated the creation of a new interdisciplinary department to house all units. During the fall of 2023, a majority of the faculty of El Instituto and the Africana Studies Institute voted against joining the new department. A majority of the faculty of El Instituto thought that joining a new department would create unreasonable labor expectations and prefer to work in an institute that is focused on Puerto Rican, Latino/a, Caribbean and Latin American studies. The other four institutes will join in the creation of a new department (yet to be named). Our faculty supports their decision and stands in solidarity with our colleagues.

Contributed by Charles R. Venator-Santiago

UConn’s Puerto Rican Studies Initiative (PRSI) is releasing a series of data dashboards designed to provide public access to different types of demographic and archival data addressing different dimensions of the Puerto Rican experience with the help of UConn Graduate students.

 

We have created dashboards addressing various demographic dimensions of Puerto Ricans in Connecticut and an interactive dashboard addressing various demographic dimensions of Puerto Ricans in the Northeast. The dashboard is available on the Puerto Rican Studies Initiative website.

 

In addition, we have developed an interactive dashboard to study the history of political status legislation for Puerto Rico. The data can be accessed through the Tableau Public platform.

 

We are in the process of creating several additional dashboards that address the demographic dimensions of Puerto Ricans in the United States.

Contributed by Charles R. Venator-Santiago

On January 20, 2024, we celebrated Connecticut’s first Latino and Puerto Rican Policy Summit. Our goal is to establish a comprehensive non-partisan agenda for the Latino community in Connecticut. The event was titled Building a Better Future: The Latino and Puerto Rican Policy Agenda Summit and was held at the Marriot Downtown Hotel. The goals of the agenda included:

 

• To provide essential information to policymakers, encourage civic participation, and address critical gaps in data analysis for our community.
• The summit serves as a platform to inform and enhance leadership within the Latino community, empowering community leaders, elected officials, and advocates.
• Beyond agenda-setting, the event provides a unique space for networking, fostering connections and collaborations within and beyond the Latino community.
• Provide essential information to policymakers, ensuring that the needs and concerns of Latinos in Connecticut are given due consideration.
• Promote active civic participation by disseminating accurate and accessible information on current socio-political issues, encouraging proactive engagement and informed decision-making within the Latino community.
• Consolidate the themes and priorities expressed during the preceding community dialogues into a comprehensive report for further discussion and distribution.
• Facilitate networking opportunities by creating a platform for attendees to connect, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships within and beyond the Latino community.
• Unveil innovative data tools that will address critical gaps in data analysis for the Latino community. These tools will empower our community and lawmakers with comprehensive, up-to-date information for informed decision-making and advocacy.

 

For more information, please visit the webpage dedicated to this event: https://puerto-rican-studies-initiative.clas.uconn.edu/latino-puerto-rican-policy-agenda-summit/

Contributed by Charles R. Venator-Santiago

Please join us in celebrating our colleague Rodolfo Fernandez, who received two awards from the Provost’s Competition Common Curriculum Grant Competition to develop two TOI-3 (creativity) courses. The selection committee wrote that it “was very impressed with your proposal and voted for your course development.” Professor Fernandez will be developing a course titled: “LLAS/HIST 26XX Role Playing Revolutionary Mexico” and a course titled: “LLAS/HIST 16XX  W Latin American Histories through Popular Cultures.”