Discursos de ódio: uma análise à luz da colonialidade: Hate speech: an analysis in the light of coloniality

Abstract

Hate speech are a form of discrimination and are predominantly directed against social groups in a position of subordination. During modern colonialism, the domination of the colonized took place through derogatory discourses that legitimized their inferiority status. This inferiorization was the result of the disqualification of the characteristics of these peoples distinct from the European pattern of behavior and production of knowledge. In Western democracies, negative representations against these same groups are still frequent even today. They are present, in the same way, in expressions that surpass the offensive and intolerant character and configure hate speech. International guidelines point out that the discriminatory component that configures an expression of hatred is sometimes linked to pre-existing stereotypes about certain collectivities, reinforcing them. Based on these premises, this article investigates whether and to what extent the hate speeches in the western societies can be deemed a colonial phenomenon. It is an exploratory research, with bibliographical e documental review based on the postcolonial and decolonial theoretical perspective. Finally, we verify that: a) hate speech can be considered expressions of coloniality in the Western culture societies; b) hate speech also occurs as a reaction, on the part of dominant social groups, to situations of empowerment and attempts of discriminated social groups to break up their subordinated status.