Understanding the Concept of Race and Racial Discrimination in Latin America

Abstract

Latin America ranks highest in the world in markers of socio-economic inequality, as well as in the negative effects that inequality has on other realms of life, such as access to basic services, access to education and professional opportunities, political influence, and, in many countries, unfair treatment by police and the justice system. These factors of inequality affect the lives of millions of people in Latin America, mainly indigenous and Afro-descendant people. Thus, it is evident that discrimination and racism are a constituent part of the Latin American region. However, many Latin American countries have declared themselves as post-racial because of the multi-racial and multi-cultural characteristics of their population, arguing that racism and racial discrimination are not present in their body politics and society. This narrative is the result of the concept of mestizaje, the mixing of races, that was imposed on the populations during colonial times, and in the post-colonial period. The concepts of mestizaje and racial democracy were utilized by Latin American Elites as tools for the nation-building process of the newly formed nations. Consequently, after political and social processes of integration into Latin American society and identity, the concepts of race and racial discrimination are not considered social issues, and there is a denial regarding the existence of racism and discrimination in the Latin American region by the general public and governments.