Letter to Judith Butler from an ex mulatto woman

Abstract

The study of race relations was established in Brazil from a comparison with the United States. One of the most prominent aspects of this comparison was the existence of a classification scale for color, with more than 300 terms used for self-classification in Brazil, in contrast to the American binary system. Despite the wide range of possibilities for classification, social indicators for income and education indicated the existence of just two categories: black and white. From the 1970s and the demands made by black movements, we have observed the emergence of an affirmative discourse on black identity and a deliberate refusal to use the numerous color terms. From a political point of view, this demand was successful, as it demonstrated the existence of a divided country. The aim of this text is to establish a dialogue with queer theory, especially in relation to questions linked to ethnic and racial identity and its importance in securing rights in the Brazilian context.