Affirmative Action: An Overview of the History of Resistance, Struggle and Achievements of the Black Population in the Brazilian Context

Abstract

This article seeks to present a reflection on affirmative actions that are characterized as public policies aimed at minority groups. On this perspective, we will make a cutting in the racial inequalities between blacks and whites in the Brazilian context, for the disparities between these groups are not marked only by social class, but also by the ambiguous racism that prevails in the country. Thereby, we seek to make the complaint of racial inequality in Brazil, as well as the announcement of answers achieved by the struggle of the black population, personified on the black movement and in actions in favor of black men and women who historically lived on the margins of society. In this sense, we organized the paper into three parts, plus the introduction and closing remarks. First, we present a brief historical and social context of race relations in Brazil. Then, we speak of about the steps and achievements of the black movement in the country. Finally, we highlight the affirmative action adopted for the benefit of black people, especially in the educational field, like the quota system in universities.