Legislation, amalgamate and civilize: the miscegenation in José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva (1783-1823)

Author(s)

Letícia de Oliveira Raymundo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2011-08-12

Examining board members

Iris Kantor; Leila Mezan Algranti; Fernando Antonio Novais

• Advisor: Iris Kantor

Abstract

Through analysis of political and scientifical writings, correspondence and personal notes, this essay analyses the conceptions of mixed blood (mestiçagem) by José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, between 1783 and 1823. It discusses his attitude before the racial theories prevailing at his time, and his distance from those theories. His writings reveal a pragmatic view in according to the political dilemmas of Portuguese Enlightened Reformism. Such conceptions guided his construction project of the State and the Brazilian nation. The analysis of his mestiçagem proposals reveals the configuration of a public policy which intended to make the social inclusion of the poor free people feasible, although preserving the hierarquical society. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/06716-2 - The matter of mestiçagem in José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva: dilemmas about the formation of Brazilian nationality
• Grantee: Letícia de Oliveira Raymundo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master