Racial revolutions : antiracism and Indian resurgence in Brazil /

In Brazil, the voluminous literature on the successes and failures of "racial democracy" has focused almost entirely on the African and European components of the population and numerous "subracial" groups that purportedly reflect various degrees of both physical and cultural blending of those two major types. Warren (international studies, Univ. of Washington) shows how the descendants of indigenes ("Indians") have, in recent decades, been generally more aware, articulate, assertive, and successful in challenging the traditional dominance of "Whites" than have "Blacks" or others, thereby achieving various kinds of social and political recognition and rights. By specifically focusing on several "remnant groups" in the area east of the tropical forest, where tribal continuity and cultures are lacking, Warren shows how and why self-identification by individuals as "Indian" happens; how it is rewarded and punished; how it relates to church, government, racial stereotypes, and values; and how it is politicized. He also explains how this sizable segment of the population, thought to be on the verge of extinction just 50 years ago, is vital and rapidly growing in both numbers and influence. Novel in its use of data and concepts, this book nicely bridges the anthropology of ethnicity, sociology of race, limits of liberation theology, and Brazilian history and culture. All levels and collections. D. B. Heath Brown University