The article describes the state of race relations and racism in South America. Racism of various forms is found in every country on Earth. Racism is widely condemned throughout the world, with 170 states signatories of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by August 8 2006. In different countries, the forms that racism takes may be different for historic, cultural, religious, economic or demographic reasons.

Brazil

In the immediate aftermath of Dom Pedro’s abdication in 1831, the poor people of color, including slaves, staged anti-Portuguese riots in the streets of Brazil's larger cities.

Race relations in Brazil have long been characterized by a belief in racial democracy, i.e. an ideology stating that racial prejudice is not a significant factor in Brazilian society, and that racism is not an obstacle to employment, education, and social mobility the way some believe it is in other countries. This theory has come under fire in recent years by researchers who say that racism is very much a factor in the country's social life.

In a sign that some Brazilian universities have come to see racism as an obstacle to higher education, several of them have created affirmative action programs aimed at increasing the admission of Afro-Brazilians and members of the native population.Plummer, Robert. "Black Brazil Seeks a Better Future." BBC News, São Paulo 25 September 2006. 16 November 2006 /news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5357842.stm>.

Chile

Guyana

There has been racial tension between the Indo-Caribbean people and the Afro-Caribbeans. This is evident during elections where major riots by the blacks occur when an Indian is president.

Venezuela

When the Venezuelan War of Independence started, the Spanish enlisted the Llaneros, playing on their dislike of the criollo of the independence movement. José Tomás Boves led an army of llaneros which routinely killed white Venezuelans. After several more years of war, which killed half of Venezuela's white population, the country achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Bolivia

Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in South America, is composed of many cultures, among them, the Aymara and the Quechua. "Pure" Aymara or Quechua people are in general looked down by mestizos and people of European origin. The economical difficulties of the population, the education level of all groups, and the economical level of the natives, accentuates the treatment.The situation has worsened in the last years and the gas rich oriental region has claimed autonomy as a result of the probable redistribution of land which would go from the more privileged people to the less privileged people that in this case would be the Aymara and the Quechua.

References

1. Rebelions in Bahia
2. Guyana turns attention to racism
3. Conflict between East Indians and Blacks
4. Venezuela
5. A First-Hand Impression of the Venezuelan Opposition

See also

Racism by country