Structural Racism in Brazil and the US

This event is virtual, to register click here.

Speakers: David Williams, Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professor of Public Health; Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Silvio Almeida, Edward Larocque Tinker Visiting Professor, Institute of Latin American Studies, Columbia University; President, Luiz Gama Institute
Moderated by: Marcia Castro, Andelot Professor of Demography; Chair of the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Brazil and the United States share significant aspects of their colonial histories, legacies of slavery, and the resulting structural racism that permeates their institutions. Studies abound regarding the disproportionate impacts and effects of mass incarceration, police brutality, and income inequality, to name a few, among black and brown populations in both countries. Despite these similarities, the demographic makeup of these two nations could not be more different: while roughly 55% of Brazil´s population identifies as black or mixed race, approximately 12% of Americans identify as black. What can a comparative look at these countries teach us about the consequences of structural racism and about potential solutions to eradicate racism from our societies?

Presented in collaboration with the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies, Columbia University, Afro-Latin American Research Institute, Harvard University, Department of Global Health and Population at HSPH, and Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at HSPH.