# The historical construction of racial identity in Brazil  
Issues related to Brazilian racial identity have captured the attention of intellectuals in several fields, including anthropology, sociology, history, literature, journalism and political sciences, in Brazil and internationally. Especially since the 1980s, some Brazilian historians have focused on racial issues in their analyses of social and cultural history, going beyond studies of slavery. They have described, categorized and analysed racial discourses in public policies on immigration, urbanization, security and criminality over the past two centuries. ${ }^{6}$ The increasing interest in and desire to understand racial identity and examine racial tensions reflects a growing debate on racism in Brazil as part of the struggle against the military dictatorship (1964-1985). The movement for the re-establishment of democracy gave visibility to various organized groups, including those of Afro-Brazilians fighting to end racial discrimination and inequality. The groups have also gained prominence through the increased presence of black intellectuals, as the expansion of the education system over previous decades and development of the economy away from the agricultural sector have given Afro-Brazilians greater opportunities to move to urban centres and improve their access to education. Therefore, it is important to note that the racial debate in Brazil has benefited enormously from the participation of black activists and intellectuals. ${ }^{7}$