The Networks of Antiracist Intellectual Articulations in the 20th Century

The Networks of Antiracist Intellectual Articulations in the 20th Century

Prof. Dr. Bruno Bandeira de Vasconcelos – Universidade Estadual do Piauí

Prof. Dr. Valério de Rosa Negreiros – Universidade Estadual do Piauí

Prof. Dr. Jorge Pedro Sousa – Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Portugal

 

According to the well-known thesis of Eric Hobsbawm, the political landscape of the 20th century took shape as an “Age of Extremes,” characterized by the consolidation of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, alongside the emergence of identity-based social movements. In this context, analyzing the articulations and practices of resistance against racism, as well as the struggle for the dignity of Black populations, requires understanding the formation of networks of resistance forged in response to the structural oppressions of post-abolition societies. In Latin America, the period following abolition fostered the spread of racial theories aimed at relegating Black individuals to positions of subservience and passivity. Such theoretical constructs, often marked by interpretative controversies—such as the notion of racial democracy proposed by Gilberto Freyre in Casa-Grande & Senzala—produced a symbiosis between academia and politics that transcended national borders, influencing debates even in Portugal. In opposition to this conciliatory paradigm of slavery, a vanguard of Latin American, African, and European intellectuals emerged, dedicated to deconstructing such narratives. In light of this context, the present dossier aims to bring together studies that investigate antiracist intellectuals in the 20th century. Its central objective is to highlight the role of these thinkers in the consolidation of theories, movements, and combative practices aimed at dismantling discourses of Black inferiority and conciliatory hegemonies.

Deadline for article submissions: July 30, 2026
Expected publication: January 2027