As negras de Claudia, luso-tropicalismo em revista

Abstract

Some of the topics of national pride in Brazil include peaceful social coexistence and the mixing of races. Such generous race mixture is believed to be associated with the beauty of "Brazilian women", which, along with soccer and samba, make part of the most distinguished "matters" when Brazil is mentioned. Gilberto Freyre’s intellectual works, based on a concept he called Lusotropicalism, represent the foundations of such pride. Freyre’s ideas are discussed by Omar Ribeiro Thomaz and can also be found in articles of recent magazines, such as Claudia, a fact that should be questioned. The idea that Brazilian culture is all about social inclusion, and honoring national celebrities with all kinds of skin colors, is especially highlighted in some of Claudia’s issues, which depict African-Brazilian celebrities as icons. However, just as the Portuguese racist behaviors, while in the colony, was far from being mentioned in the works of famous sociologist Gilberto Freyre, Claudia has never saved any room to discuss discrimination against black women. It has supported the subordination of individuals by mostly posting white women on its covers and major articles.