Odd recent studies on Brazilians.

[doctorisscientia]

Brazil is largely recognized as a multiracial country, African and European representing the largest and most significant ancestral components of the general population, no matter the social classification. Indigenous American being a minor but significant genealogical aspect as well. Previous genetic studies among the Brazilian population reveal extensive admixture in both the Euro-Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian population, i.e. both "Pardo's" and "Preto's". But more recently, there has been a few studies, more like two, made by affiliated groups which claim European ancestry as the most dominant component of the Brazilian population in all racial groups, 80-90%. The studies seem off at best, but the political factor seems to play a huge role as well in regard to the whole anti-black civil rights movement in Brazil, i.e. racial quotas and the reclassification of "Prado's" and "Preto's" into the "Negra" category. Anybody who is familiar with the Brazilian population please comment and discuss, and if you have any additional information or knowledge in regard to either the two white-washed studies or genetics in general please respond.

Here are the studies, if in other language... use translator provided.

www.meionews.com.br/index.php/noticias/21-estado-do-rio/4607-negros-e-pardos-do-rio-tem-mais-genes-europeus-do-que-imaginam-segundo-estudo.html
www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ciencia/ult306u633465.shtml

Translation
translation2.paralink.com/

Ancestral make-up of Brazilian population according to multiple earlier studies.

" Another study calculated to Black and White Brazilians respectively: 67% African, 28% European and 5% Amerindian admixture and 70% European, 18% African and 12% Amerindian admixture. To Brown Brazilians, the study calculated a 50% African and 50% European and Amerindian admixture."

Whats your opinion in regard to genomic and autoasmal ancestry tests in which break down your ancestry into %'s? Are they accurate? From my understanding, it's currently impossible to read the entire or the majority of your genetic sequence, therefore impossible to break you into %'s.

[doctorisscientia]

Both studies seem false, eurocentric, political, and goes against everything Brazilian, as proven by previous studies and known history.

[homeylu]

I've seen several studies on Afro-Brazilians, and unlike African Americans, they didn't necessarily claim their African identity, based on a 'small' drop of African blood. So a lot of this is social, as far as I'm concerned.

I do recall from history, that the Portuguese brought 10 times more Africans to Brazil than any other country in the "New World" so one would expect the majority of the country to have African ancestry, even the self-proclaimed "White Brazilians". And unlike America in the Jim Crow era, interracial marriages did take place, especially since it has been claimed that there were more European men in Brazil than women, so often they had to take African or Native "mistresses".

I didn't read the studies yet, so I will comment, once I translate and read them.

[homeylu]

OK, I read both articles, using the Google translation bar. These appear to be news articles, and there is no link to an actual study published in a recognized Scientific Journal. So I have to take what's written with a grain of salt, as it may be 'politically' motivated. Brazil has apparently moved to the "quota" system for University admittance, to make up for past discrimination against self-proclaimed "Blacks". It appears the study was only conducted on a small sample at one University in particular, and seems to be claiming that these "Blacks" are predominantly "European", which questions, do they really qualify for such "quotas".

That's what I got out of it, nothing more.

[doctorisscientia]

Exactly. I had the same view in regard to those articles above. I just whated to discuss the general Brazilian with anybody more familar with Brazil or genetics, for example genomic or autosamal ancestry. I was shocked to say the least that so much political and social derived lies were being broadcasted in Brazil in regard to the whole Black Civil Rights Movement in Brazil, history is repeated itself.

[truthteacher2007]

Jun 30, 2010 1:33:04 GMT -5 homeylu said:

OK, I read both articles, using the Google translation bar. These appear to be news articles, and there is no link to an actual study published in a recognized Scientific Journal. So I have to take what's written with a grain of salt, as it may be 'politically' motivated. Brazil has apparently moved to the "quota" system for University admittance, to make up for past discrimination against self-proclaimed "Blacks". It appears the study was only conducted on a small sample at one University in particular, and seems to be claiming that these "Blacks" are predominantly "European", which questions, do they really qualify for such "quotas".

That's what I got out of it, nothing more.

Which is why I am opposed to racial classification systems. They were created by the ruling elite to protect their economic and political interests, not ours. This is a perfect example of that. Aint that just a kick in the head? In the past people were EXCLUDED because they had too much African blood. Now when methods are being implimented to rectify the situation turns out they have TOO MUCH European blood. I was always suspicious of these plans in Brazil. I think it would be far better to impliment economic reforms to target those who have been left out of the loop intergenerationally. What do you think?

[egyptianplanet]

Which begs the question who came up with the system of "racial" classification? It's impossible to know for sure there is no definite race, the human genome remains a chimera rather than a rigid classification system. Heck, even the taxonomic system we use for animals is rigid and has many gaps due to the fact we don't acknowledge "racial" classification is more flawed than true.

I know eventually, as the world mixes at such a rapid rate as it is right now, the notion of race will die out. But for some they keep it around. I had a job interview and they asked me for my race. Apparently being a student looking for a summer job as a cashier they need to know my "race."

Like Caesar once said, "men willingly believe as they wish."

[djoser-xyyman]

I am beginning to enter"none" on these forms. or "human race". Maybe it will start a movement. LOL.

[truthteacher2007]

Jun 30, 2010 11:31:15 GMT -5 djoser-xyyman said:

I am beginning to enter"none" on these forms. or "human race". Maybe it will start a movement. LOL.

I hear you. I had a big dissussion/argument wih my family last Christmass because I refuse to allow myself to be labeled black. They think its because I'm ashamed or want to be better and can't understand that for me its not about trying to be special or distance myself, but that its a form of protest, rejecting the system. The problem is that there are people out there, (tons of them), who reject being labled as black because they ARE trying to distance themselves and they ARE insecure about their African origins. Given the way our communities were divided based on skin color and phenotype its understandable. However, I just can't for the life of me go along anymore with a system that was designed not for my well being, but my detriment. I can no longer let my sense of self, my core being be defined by those who despise me and aginst whom I have to fight for my self determination and dignity on a daily basis. I've been told all my life we need to identify ourselves so that we get propper funding BLAH,BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, but you know what? I ain't sen it. Ghettos are still ghettos and when money is tight, the services that efect us the most are the first ones cut. When the census guy came round and got to THAT question, I politely told him they already had all the information that was important and left it at that. Why do they need to know exactly how many people are in each ethnic gooup anyway? So they know how many barracks to build for the conce tration camps?