Social Formation and Social Movements: the myth of Racial Democracy and the Public Policies in Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to discuss how the Brazilian Social Formation influenced the formulation of public policies aimed at combating racial exclusion. The indistinct between public and private, while striking feature of our Social Formation shows parallels with the discourse of racial democracy in the sense that it operates from the permissiveness of social relationships, which meant a peaceful coexistence between masters and slaves. So we will explore this approach on three different ways: first discuss the design of Social Formation and its relationship with the State and consequently to public policies also present a possible link to the Social Movements. Secondly, we show two different analyses on the Social Formation and the constitution of the Brazilian state, drawing attention to the similarities of these tests with the discourse of racial democracy, and how these factors led the Black Movement to a determined attitude, not allowing their agenda to become materialized in Public Policy.