Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Color Privileges, Humor, and Dialogues: Theorizing How People of African Descent in Brazil Communicatively Manage Stigmatization and Racial Discrimination

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Black/Africana Communication Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce a theoretical framework aimed at explaining how an overt and systemic culture of racism impacts the communication style of marginalized groups. Specifically, this chapter uses the Racial Democracy Effect Theory to explain how racial stigmatization and the false notion of racial harmony, inhibits Brazilians of African descent, keeping them in a dialogical state of marginalization. To explore the applicability of the Racial Democracy Effect Theory, a survey was conducted with 24 people of African descent in Brazil. The study aimed at exploring (1) the communicative techniques people of African descent preferred when interacting with others when any racial teasing occurred; (2) if the type of reaction was contingent upon the membership of the offender; (3) if the level of aggression was stronger if the offender shared the same phenotype; and (4) if there was any relationship between skin color and the techniques chosen. The data showed that members of groups that have been traditionally marginalized prefer non-assertive techniques. The data also revealed that the level of aggressiveness was higher towards people of the same phenotype versus people of different phenotypes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In Brazil, “universalism” is often used to refer to a tendency to merge cultures and ideas. A means to achieve “democracy .”

  2. 2.

    [mandonismo] is a Brazilian term that means to take charge or control.

  3. 3.

    Little female nigger. Diminutives are often used to add a friendly tone.

  4. 4.

    “Object is anything that can be indicated, anything that is pointed to or referred to—a cloud, a book, a legislature… (Blumer 2002, p. 10).

References

  • Azevedo, C. M. (1996). O abolocionismo transatlântico e a memória do paraíso racial brasileiro. Estudos Afro-Asiáticos, 30, 151–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bascom, W. (1965). The Forms of Folklore: Prose Narratives. The Journal of American Folklore, 78(307), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumer, H. (1969/1986). Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall/University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourcier, N. (2012, October). Brazil Comes to Terms with Its Slave Trading Past. (T. Guardian, Producer). Retrieved July 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/23/brazil-struggle-ethnic-racial-identity.

  • Camino, L., da Silva, P., Machado, A., & Pereira, C. (2001). A face oculta do racismo no Brasil: Uma análise psicossociológica. Revista de Psicologia Política, 1(1), 13–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campos, L. A. (2015, Abril). O nergro é povo no Brasil: afirmação da negritude e democracia racial em Alberto Guerreiro Ramos (1948–1955). Caderno CRH, 28(73), 91–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, M. (2005). Quem é negro, quem é branco: desempenho escolar e classificação racial de alunos. Revista Brasileira de Educação, Abril, 28, 77–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaffee, S., & Berger, C. (1987). What Communication Scientists Do. In C. Berger & S. H. Charree (Eds.), Handook of Communication Science (pp. 99–122). Newburry Park: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciconello, A. (2008). The Challenge of Eliminating Racism in Brazil: The New Institutional Framework for Fighting Racial Inequality. OXFAM: Publications. Retrieved June 2017, from http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/the-challenge-of-eliminating-racism-in-brazil-the-new-institutional-framework-f-112382.

  • Corley, K., & Gioia, D. (2011). Building Theory About Theoru Building: What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution. Academy of Management Review, 36(1), 12–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer, K. M. (2012). Six criteria of a viable theory: Putting reversal theory to test. Journal of Orbe, M. P., & Roberts, T. L. (2012). Co-Cultural Theorizing: Foundations, Applications & Extensions. Howard Journal of Communication, 23, 293–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer, K. M. (2013). Six Criteria of a Viable Theory: Putting Reversal Theory to Test. Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality, 1, 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • da Silva, J. M. (2006). Playing the Game: Exploring How Children of African Descent in Brazil Manage Stigmatization in Interpersonal Interaction. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Howard University, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahia, S. L. (2008). A mediação do riso na expressão e consolidação do racismo no Brasil. Sociedade e Estado, 23(3), 697–720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debanjan, B. (2010). Mass Communication: Trends, Traits and Theories. Journal of Media and Communiation Studies, 2(5), 118–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes, F. (1965). A integração do negro na sociedade de classes. São Paulo: Dominus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, R. F. (2002). O brasileiro, o racismo silencioso e a emancipação do afro-descendente. Psicologia & Sociedade, 14(1), 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, R. F., & Camargo, A. C. (2011). As relações cotidianas e a contrução da identidade negra. Pscicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 31(2), 374–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, L. R., & Sunwolf. (2004). The Symbolic-Interpretive Approach Perspective on Group Dynamics. Small Group Research, 35(3), 277–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, K. (2003). Theory Construction in Design Research: Criteria, Approaches, and Methods. Design Studies, 24(6), 507–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fry, L., & Smith, D. (1987). Congruence, Contingency, And Theory Building. Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 117–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadea, C. (2013, Set./Dez). O espaço da negritude e o reverso da africanidade: Crítica sobre as relações raciais contemporâneas. Caderno CRH, 26(69), 563–579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gioia, D., & Pitre, E. (1990). Multiparadigm Perspectives on Theory Building. Academy of Management Review, 15(4), 584–602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1971). Status Passage. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New Jersey: Englewood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudykunst, W. B., Lee, C. M., Nishida, T., & Ogawa, N. (2005). Theorizing About Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. In W. B. Gudykunst (Ed.), Theorizing About Intercultural Communication (pp. 3–32). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guimarães, A. S. (1995). Racism and Anti-Racism in Brazil: A Postmodern Perspective. In B. Bowser (Ed.), Racism and Anti-Racism in World Perspective (pp. 208–226). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guimarães, A. S. (2006). Depois da Democracia Racial. Tempo Social, Revista de Sociologia da USP, 18(2), 269–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guimarães, A. A. (2015). Formações nacionais de classe e raça. In Simpósio Os Negros e as Cidades Brasileiras (1890–1950) (pp. 161–182). São Paulo: Centro Universitário Maria Antonia (Ceuma-USP).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hambrick, D. C. (2007). The Field of Management’s Devotion to Theory: Too Much of a Good Thing? Academy of Management Journal, 50, 1346–1352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanchard, M. (1999). Black Cinderella? Race and the Public Sphere in Brazil. In M. Hanchard (Ed.), Racial Politics in Contemporary Brazil (pp. 59–81). Durham: Duke University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, R. (2002). Language Myth Within Western Culture. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasenbalg, C. (1979). Discriminação e desigualdades raciais no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Graal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, R. L. (2000). Human Communication Theory and Research, 2nd edn. [Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781135677053/.

  • Htun, M. (2004). From Racial Democracy to Affirmative Action: Changing State Policy on Race in Brazil. Latin American Research Review, 39(1), 60–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iraheta, D. (2015, March 24). In Brazil, Racism Can Wear a Friendly Face – But It’s No Less Insidious. Retrieved July 4, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/24/in-brazil-racism-can-wear_n_6926164.html.

  • Junior, C. P. (1998). Afeto e discurse racistas. In III Congresso de Psicopatologia Fundamental (pp. 107–115). São Paulo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, V., & Herring, C. (1991). Skin Tone and Stratification in the Black Community. The American Journal of Sociology, 97(3), 760–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Life Science. (2012, May). What is the Difference Between Race and Ethnicity?. Retrieved July 2017, from https://www.livescience.com/33903-difference-race-ethnicity.html.

  • Lima, M. E., & Vala, J. (2004). Sucesso social, branqueameto e racismo. Psicologia: Theoria e Pesquisa, 20(1), 11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. E., & Vala, J. (2005). A cor do sucesso: Efeitos da performace social e econômica no branqueamento e na infra-humanização dos negros do Brasil. Pscicologisa USP, 16(3), 143–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing Stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lombardi, C., & Hurlbert, S. (2009). Misprescription and Nisue of One-Tailed Tests. Austral Ecology, 34(4), 447–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, Self and Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGodrick, M., Giordano, J., & Garcia-Preto, N. (2005). Ethnicity and Family Therapy. New York/London: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moura e Silva, M. L. (2015). Casa-Grande & Senzala e o mito da democracia racial. In 39 Encontro Anual da Anpocs (pp. 1–24). Caxambu, MG: ANPOCS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunes, A. V., & Camino, L. (2011). Atitude político-ideológica e inserção social: Fatores psicossociais do preconceito racial? Psicologia & Sociedade, 23(1), 135–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orbe, M. P. (1996). Laying the Foundation for Co-cultural Communication Theory: An Inductive Approach to Studying “Non-Dominant” Communication Strategies and the Factors that Influence Them. Communication Studies, 42, 157–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orbe, M. P. (1998). Constructing Co-Cultural Theory: An Explication of Culture, Power and Communication. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Orbe, M. P., & Roberts, T. L. (2012). Co-Cultural Theorizing: Foundations, Applications & Extensions. Howard Journal of Communication, 23, 293–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orbe, M. P., & Spellers, R. E. (2005). From the Margins to the Center: Utilizing Co-Cultural Theory in Diverse Contexts. In W. B. Gudykunst (Ed.), Theorizing About Intercultural Communication (pp. 173–192). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Partington, D. (2000). Building Grounded Theories of Management Action. British Journal of Management, 11, 91–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues, R. N. (1995). Os Africanos No Brasil. São Paulo: Editora Nacional.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, J. J., & Adams, M. (2015). Racial and Ethnic Discrimination. Salem: Salem Press Encyclopedia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sage, R. M. (1984). Stigma: Concepts in Social Policy. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, E. L. (2010). Racismo e infúria: erosão e persistências no ideário da democracia racial. São Carlos: Universidade de São Carlos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schucman, L. V. (2014). Sim, nós somos racistas: estudo psicossocial da branquitude paulistana. Psicologia & Sociedade, 26(1), 83–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Secretaria de Combate ao Racismo. (2010). População Negra no Brasil – População. Retrieved July 2017, from http://cut.org.br/system/uploads/action_file_version/1fcd516c53da22deaee03e41c795da50/file/dados-20-20-20-20-20-20-20populacao-20negra-20no-20brasil-20-20populacao.pdf.

  • Shah, A. (2010, August 8). UN’s World Conference on Racism, 2001. Global Issues: Social, Political, Economic and Envioronmental Issues that Affect Us All. Retrieved July 2017, from http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism#UNsWorldConferenceonRacism2001.

  • Smeltzer, L., & Suchan, J. (1991). Guest Editorial: Theory Building and Relevance. The Journal of Business Communication, 28(3), 181–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soares, C. (2004). História da Capoeira, Cultura no Brasil Colonial, Cultura Afro-brasileira. São Paulo: Unicamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, R. A., & Chermack, T. J. (2013). Theory Building in Applied Disciplines. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communication Across Cultures. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting-Toomey, S., & Chung, L. C. (2005). Understanding Intercultural Communication. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN.Org. (2001, May). Fact Sheet 1: Why a World Conference Now? (United Nations Department of Public Information). Retrieved July 2017, from http://www.un.org/WCAR/e-kit/fact1.htm.

  • United Nations. (2001). More Than Meets Eye – Let’s Fight Racism! Retrieved July 2017, from http://www.un.org/en/letsfightracism/index.shtml.

  • UOL Economia. (2015, April 12). Negros representam 54% da população do país, mas são só 17% dos mais ricos. Retrieved July 3, 2017, from https://economia.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2015/12/04/negros-representam-54-da-populacao-do-pais-mas-sao-so-17-dos-mais-ricos.htm.

  • Wright, K. B. (2005, April). Researching Internet-Based Populations: Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Survey Research, Online Questionnaire Authoring Software Packages, and Web Survey Services. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(3). Retrieved February 5, 2006, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue3/wright.html.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Savannah State University, Savannah, GA, USA

    Juliana Maria (da Silva) Trammel

Authors
  1. Juliana Maria (da Silva) Trammel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication School of Communications, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA

    Kehbuma Langmia

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Trammel, J.M. (2018). Color Privileges, Humor, and Dialogues: Theorizing How People of African Descent in Brazil Communicatively Manage Stigmatization and Racial Discrimination. In: Langmia, K. (eds) Black/Africana Communication Theory. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75447-5_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation