Racial Definitions And Approaches Of Brazil And The United States And Essay Example

How can it be Applied in the US Education Sector

Unlike in the United States where race is more or less defined by historical biases or through previous and current statutes, Brazil’s definition of race is simpler yet in other ways more complex.
In a 2012 article published in the Economist titled “Affirming a Divide”, Brazilians describe race as just the color of their skin regardless of mixed marriages, social status, economic background, etc. There are no biases that can justify segregation unlike that of the United States, where race would mean separation from peers from other races (in a mostly white/nonwhite classification) in cases like education. However, historically Brazilians with darker skin tend to be very poor and white Brazilians tend to be very rich which remains to be a challenge for its federal government. In response to that, the article adds, Brazilian universities give more allocation to black students seeking to enter university and giving them more scholarship programs.
This way of thinking is needed in the United States, where a 2007 decision of the US Supreme Court on the case of segregation of students in community schools for their assignment in schools in two education districts (the Seattle district in Washington State and Jefferson county district in Kansas) was considered unconstitutional by plurality opinion (4-7). Giving equal opportunities or even encouraging minorities in the US to join in universities without the issue of racial segregation is deemed beneficial to all, if we apply the Brazilian model of race. This leads to a diverse society with better understanding towards one another and promoting peace and order due to such understandings. This change can benefit the community and the nation as a whole moving forward.
It is hoped that such age-old problems would no longer be an issue for our children and their children.

Works Cited

The Economist. “Race in Brazil: Affirming a Divide”. 28 January 2012. Web. 28 February 2015.
Parents involved in community schools v. Seattle School District 1 et al. 05-908 U.S. Supreme
Court. 2007. 4-7. Print.