Pigmentocracies: Ethnicity, Race, and Color in Latin America

by Edward E. Telles

Pigmentocracies --the fruit of the multiyear Project on Ethnicity and Race in Latin America (PERLA)--is a richly revealing analysis of contemporary attitudes toward ethnicity and race in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, four of Latin America's most populous nations. Based on extensive, original sociological and anthropological data generated by PERLA, this landmark study analyzes ethnoracial classification, inequality, and discrimination, as well as public opinion about Afro-descended and indigenous social movements and policies that foster greater social inclusiveness, all set within an ethnoracial history of each country. A once-in-a-generation examination of contemporary ethnicity, this book promises to contribute in significant ways to policymaking and public opinion in Latin America.

Edward Telles, PERLA's principal investigator, explains that profound historical and political forces, including multiculturalism, have helped to shape the formation of ethnic identities and the nature of social relations within and across nations. One of Pigmentocracies 's many important conclusions is that unequal social and economic status is at least as much a function of skin color as of ethnoracial identification. Investigators also found high rates of discrimination by color and ethnicity widely reported by both targets and witnesses. Still, substantial support across countries was found for multicultural-affirmative policies--a notable result given that in much of modern Latin America race and ethnicity have been downplayed or ignored as key factors despite their importance for earlier nation-building.

Genres: Sociology, Race, History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2014

Reviews

[Mauricio Prado Jaimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo más valioso del libro es la perspectiva comparada entre cómo se diferencia el racismo en varios países de América Latina y el esfuerzo por conjuntar tantos grupos de investigación de la región bajo un piso común. También los datos son muy fuertes y útiles para pensar el papel del color en las jerarquías sociales.
Entre lo histórico de cada país y el análisis cuantitativo logra ofrecer un buen retrato de cada caso. Claro que como todo análisis basado en lo cuantitativo tiene sus limitantes pero sin duda es un gran estudio.
Solo me faltó una discusión teórica más fuerte sobre por qué elegir el término "pigmentocracia" y no "racismo" directamente.

[Danisha Gazaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

So eye opening

[Isaiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful to how race, color, and ethnicity operate in Latin America. I would’ve loved a chapter on Cuba, Puerto Rico, and/or the Dominican Republic as I feel like the Caribbean was overlooked and could’ve provided valuable data and insights, but I’m just being selfish. It really accomplishes a tremendous task of shining a light on color and clearing preconceived notions about an array of topics inundated with misconceptions.

[RYAN PHAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it, preto and pardo people face discrimination.