PPT 15 Race, Nation Building, and Nationalism PDF

This lecture examines: Race, Nation Building, and Nationalism Social Darwinism and its impact on Latin American thought in the 1800s The rise of Nationalism Why and how Latin American authors and artists abandoned social Darwinism (c. 1900) and exalted Latin America’s indigenous, African, and biraci...

This lecture examines: Race, Nation Building, and Nationalism Social Darwinism and its impact on Latin American thought in the 1800s The rise of Nationalism Why and how Latin American authors and artists abandoned social Darwinism (c. 1900) and exalted Latin America’s indigenous, African, and biracial peoples 1 19th- Century Latin American (wealthy, usually white) leaders (both conservative and liberal), ask: Why does Latin America suffer from so much political and economic instability? Why have so many caudillos/dictators risen to power in Latin America? Why is there so such poverty and lawlessness? What should we do to become prosperous, progressive, and ‘Westernized’? 2 Charles Darwin -Born into wealthy, educated English family. - Became a “naturalist” (biologist) - Took 5-year (18311836) voyage aboard “HMS Beagle” and went to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Andes, Galapagos Islands, among other places. 1809-1882 3 Darwin’s five theories: Evolution: Species come and go through time; while they exist, they change. No need for students to memorize these 5 theories Common descent: Organisms are descended from one or several common ancestors and have diversified from this original stock. Species multiply: The diversification of life involves populations of one species diverging until they become two separate species; this has probably occurred billions of times on earth. Gradualism: Evolutionary change occurs through incremental small changes within populations; new species are not created suddenly. Natural selection: Evolutionary change occurs through variation between individuals; some variants give the individual an extra survival probability. Yes, learn: Species develop through natural selection and develop variations that allow them to compete, survive, and reproduce. 4 Some 19th c. theorists apply Darwin’s biological conclusions to societies and ‘races’ Darwin wasn’t a political scientist or a politician. He intended his theories to be used to better understand biology and evolution. But… some political scientists and politicians (1860-1930) began to apply Darwin’s theories about biology to society at large. The Result: “Social Darwinism”– essentially a racial explanation to explain why some (whites) are successful and meant to be lead and others (non-whites) are poor and meant to follow. “Why such poverty and lawlessness?” Why are our societies “backward?” Latin American elite (during this time believed that poverty, criminality, and backwardness in their countries could be explained by biology—that is, that African and indigenous peoples (and their progeny) were to blame. 5 Term coined in the late 19th century to describe the idea that humans, like animals and plants, compete in a struggle for existence in which natural selection results in “survival of the fittest.” Social Darwinism General belief that some people are more fit to survive/succeed/govern than others. At its extreme, some proponents thought that governments should not interfere with human competition by regulating the economy or curing social ills such as poverty. Progress depends on struggle and competition. 6 Herbert Spencer: Survival of the Fittest English philosopher and biologist Author of Principles of Biology (1864) where he used phrase “survival of the fittest” instead of Darwin’s term, “natural selection” He wrote about “…the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life His ideas seemed to promote (1) an attitude of ‘us versus them;’ (2) the belief that some people were meant to dominate and control others; (3) “cutthroat” economic competition 1820-1903 7 Arthur Gobineau: Inequality of Races and ‘Superior’ Aryan Race French aristocrat and anthropologist 1848 author of “An Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races” Helped to develop theory of Aryan master race (belief that Germanic franks were superior) Thought that ‘superior’ peoples should not breed with ‘inferior’ races, that is, that ‘inbreeding’ led to inferior stock. 1816-1882 8 “The negroid variety is the lowest and stands at the foot of the ladder. The animal character, that appears in the shape of the pelvis, is stamped on the negro from birth, and foreshadows his destiny. His intellect will always move within a very narrow circle….” Gobineau’s racist thinking… Alas, pseudo-science was once considered cutting edge. Science has since disproven the wrong claims made by social Darwinists. “The yellow race is the exact opposite of this type. The skull points forward, not backward. The forehead is wide and bony, often high and projecting. The shape of the face is triangular, the nose and chin showing none of the coarse protuberances that mark the negro. There is further a general proneness to obesity… The yellow man has little physical energy and is inclined to apathy….” We come now to the white peoples. These are gifted with reflective energy, or rather with an energetic intelligence. They have a feeling for utility, but in a sense far wider and higher, more courageous and ideal, than the yellow races… an extraordinary instinct for order, not merely as a guarantee of peace and tranquility, but as an indispensable means of selfpreservation. At the same time, they have a remarkable, and even extreme, love of liberty….” 9 Rudyard Kipling: “The White Man’s Burden” English novelist and poet born and raised in British India 1899 Poem about Spanish-American War (and U.S. in Philippines). Opening stanza of the poem: “Take up the White Man's burden Send forth the best ye breed Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness On fluttered folk and wild – 1865-1936 10 Your new-caught sullen peoples, Half devil and half child….” Kipling’s poem influences (and justifies) colonization and imperialism Though probably not Kipling’s intention, his poem was used to justify U.S. and European imperialism—that whites had the right (even obligation) to rule over uncivilized non-whites such as Latin Americans, Africans, and Asians. Implications for colonization and imperialism in Latin America? Justification was U.S. to colonize or control Cuba and Puerto Rico (and Hawaii and the Philippines) 11 Turning our attention to Latin America… Just like the ideas of the Enlightenment spread from Europe and the United States to Latin America and influenced a previous generation of Latin American intellectuals… The ideas of scientific racists spread to Latin America and were (conveniently) accepted by wealthy and powerful Latin American politicians and intellectuals (to justify their privilege and the ongoing suppression of the masses). 12 Racial explanations by a Latin American to explain a nation’s development Some Latin American “intellectuals,” such as the Argentine sociologist and lawyer Carlos Octavio Bunge, argued that there was a hierarchy of race and traits in Latin America. 1875-1918 13 Bunge (cont’d) Indians, he said, were passive and fatalistic. Negros, he said, were not capable of intellectual leadership, and were best suited to serve. Mulattoes, he said, were impulsive, degenerate, devils, and tricksters Mestizos, he said, were brutal. The only culture worthy of emulation, he said, was the (white) European. 14 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Famous Argentinian liberal politician who fought against the Rosas dictatorship. President from 1868-74. Civilization versus Barbarism (1845) European civilization (in cities/city folk) vs. Indian and mixed-blood barbarism in rural areas. 1811-1888 “Strong races,” said Sarmiento, “exterminate weak ones, civilized peoples supplant savages in 15 possession of the land… The savages of America… [are] our enemies of race, color, tendencies, civilization… they are nothing more than disgusting Indians…“ Q: How ingrained was racist thought in Latin America and elsewhere (the United States and Europe) in the 1800s and early 1900s? A: Totally… Even by historians of the period… This passage is from D. Salvador Brau, Puerto Rico y su historia (Valencia, 1894, p. 369): – “In the meantime, we have Mr. Salvador Brau’s authority for stating the general character of the present generation of Puerto Ricans to be made up of the distinctive qualities of the three races from which they are descended, to wit: indolence, taciturnity, sobriety, disinterestedness, hospitality, inherited from their Indian ancestors; physical endurance , sensuality, and fatalism from their negro progenitors; and love of display, love of country, independence, devotion, perseverance, and chivalry from their Spanish sires.” This paraphrased passage is from R.A. Van Middeldyk, The History of Puerto Rico (New York, 1903, p. 201; italics in original): – “The result of the union of two physically, and intellectually widely differing races in not the transmission to the progeny of any or all of the superior qualities of the progenitor, but rather his own moral degradation. The mestizos od Spanish America… are moral as well as physical hybrids in whose character, as a rule, the worst qualities of the two races from which they spring predominate. It is only in subsequent generations, after oft-repeated crossings and recrossings, that atavism takes place, and that the fusion of the two races is finally consummated through the preponderance of the physiological attribute of the ancestor of superior race.” No…students do not need to memorize these authors or the names of their history books. My intention here is to help students realize that “social Darwinist” ideas were popular in society and that historians promoted these erroneous views in their lectures and textbooks. 16 Europeanize or “Whiten” Societies via Immigration (1880-1920) Especially in Southern Cone, and most to Argentina Continued belief by elite (white) politicians that indigenous peoples and blacks were inferior Desire by some Latin American politicians to “whiten” their population through immigration. Q: When does Argentina promote whitening its population? A: During the period when social Darwinism was in vogue in Latin America 17 Migration to Latin America from 1880-1920: The Numbers (Mostly to So. Cone) Most immigrants went to Argentina. By 1895, almost 350,000 people in Buenos Aires (about 52% of the population) had migrated from outside of Argentina. Born in Blood and Fire, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2016 W. W. Norton & Company Migration to Latin America, 1880-1920: The Case of Brazil Brazil (like Argentina), sought to attract immigrants from western Europe, and the largest came from Italy and Germany. Wealthy coffee planters in São Paulo (1886) helped to establish the Sociedade Promotora da Imigracão (The Company to Promote Immigration). While “whitening” or “branqueamento” may have been one of the reasons for targeting people from western Europe (and not from Africa, for example), another reason was the need for agricultural laborers as slavery was finally being abolished in Brazil. One of many buildings in a complex in São Paulo where immigrants were processed prior to being transferred to coffee farms. Immigrants to Brazil (mostly to São Paulo and further south) went from 33,000 in 1886 to 132,000 in 1888. Many moved to cities shortly thereafter. European immigrants received free (3rd class) ship passage and had to fulfill service contracts. 19 Immigration Continued During the 20th Century: Immigrants Were Poor and Abused Immigration to Brazil continued. This picture from 1930 Many immigrants complained of abuse on the plantations (latifundios) where they were assigned to work and uprisings were common, as this newspaper article from 1953 suggests. 20 ‘We want and need immigrants, but we want them to be just like us’ Many people in Brazil (like in the U.S.) tout multi-culturalism. But “Nationals” typically resent the newly-arrived immigrant populations when their numbers grow and when the nationals begin to fear that their own beloved ways are being changed or even replaced. In this 1942 announcement, the government of Brazil has gone as far as to outlaw the speaking of Italian, German, or Japanese in public. Of course, 1942 coincides with WWII, so there are other issues involved. A few years later, Brazil’s then leader (Vargas) promoted “abrasileiramento” or “Brazilianization.” More on Vargas in PPT 18. 21 Now, let’s turn our attention to the rise of National Identity, Nationalism in Latin America Beginning around 1900 Nationalists promoted national identities that glorified mestizos, blacks, and indigenous peoples Nationalists rejected social Darwinism 22 Nationalism in general and in Latin America (1900-present) In general: A sense of national consciousness, pride; sometimes excessive patriotism/chauvinism A strong belief that the interests of one’s nation-state are of primary importance In Latin America: Resentment of foreign intervention and foreign ownership of natural resources And new … starting at the end of 19th century: Pride in being mestizo, or mulatto, or of one’s indigenous and/or African roots 23 Manuel Alsonso: Puerto Rican Pride and the Jíbaros 1822-1889 Pride in being Puerto Rican and a strong attachment to the homeland Wrote “El Gíbaro (sic)” (The Peasant) in 1849. He exalted the customs and traditions of the jíbaros—the hard working, decent, resourceful, hospitable people of the countryside. 24 José Vasconcelos: Mexican Pride and Mestizos Mexican philosopher, author, and Secretary of Education (1920s) Author of La raza cósmica (The Cosmic Race, 1925) 1882-1959 25 Vasconcelos (cont’d) Sometimes problematic because his writings haven’t always aged well. Only one generation removed from scientific racist thought, he believed that the different “races” had different qualities, and he did not think highly of blacks and Asians. Nonetheless, his theories and writings demonstrated considerable racial progress. He wrote, “The definitive race, the synthetic race, the integral race, made up of the genius and the blood of all peoples and, for that reason, more capable of true brotherhood and of a truly universal vision.” (Race-mixing is positive, not negative) 26 Ciro Alegría: Peruvian Pride and the Accomplishments of Indigenous Peoples Novel focusses on indigenous people in Peru whose lands are taken away by white elite. Landless indigenous peoples forced to work in mines and in factories. Basically… the indigenous peoples want to live in peace and cultivate their lands. The problem, we learn, isn’t that indigenous peoples are backward or stupid, but that they are exploited and not allowed to reach their potential. 1909-1967 Broad and Alien is the World, 1941 27 Gilberto Freyre: Brazilian Pride in Contributions of People of African Descent “Every Brazilian, even the light skinned fair haired one carries about him on his soul, when not on soul and body alike, the shadow or at least the birthmark of the aborigine or the negro, in our affections, our excessive mimicry, our Catholicism which so delights the senses, our music, our gait, our speech, our cradle songs, in everything that is a sincere expression of our lives, we almost all of us bear the mark of that influence.” -The Masters and the Slaves (1933) 1900-1987 The Masters and the Slaves (1933) To his credit, he interpreted “mestiçagem” (mixing) as a positive opportunity and development and not as causing a degradation of the ‘races.’ Sounds lovely… and certainly represented an advancement over the racist assumptions expressed by social Darwinists. But… 28 Recent criticism of Freyre To some, his writings downplay the severity and brutality of slavery in Brazil. “[His] depiction of Brazilian history described a benign system of slavery in which a benevolent patriarch supervised joyous subordinates who made up a kind of extended family.” To others, he failed to acknowledge that miscegenation (racial blending) was frequently the result of violent sexual exploitation perpetrated on women of African descent. Still others have criticized him for minimizing ongoing racism toward and prejudice against Blacks in Brazil, especially since his writings implied that miscegenation in Brazil had contributed to a ‘racial democracy.’ Source: Burkholder, Rankin, and Johnson, Exploitation, Inequality, and Resistance, Oxford, 2018, p. 296. 29 José Martí: Cuban Pride and Resentment of Foreign Political and Economic Imperialism Known as “The apostle of Cuban independence” Poet, journalist, died in Cuba fighting against Spain (1895) Autor of “Our America” in 1891 Ridicules previous politicians and intellectuals in Latin America for promoting European and capitalist interests Implored Latin Americans to promote their own unique identity and culture 1853-1895 30 Martí (cont’d) “the able governor in America is not the one who knows how to govern the Germans or the French; he must know the elements that compose his own country, and how to bring them together, using methods and institutions originating within the country….” (We should stop looking for inspiration from Europe or the United States and we should forge our own path.) “The struggle is not between civilization and barbarity, but between false erudition and Nature.” (A dig at Sarmiento and previous “enlightened” and “liberal” politicians who praised white Europeans and their values and denigrated the most of Latin American peoples.) “The history of America from the Incas to the present, must be taught in clear detail and to the letter, even if the archons [lords] of Greece are overlooked. Our Greece must take priority over the Greece that is not ours. We need it more. Nationalist statesmen must replace foreign statesmen. Let the world be grafted onto our republics, but the trunk must be our own.” (We should be faithful to ourselves and our own traditions and not imitate others.) 31 Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo: Mexican Muralism Glorified the Mexican Revolution, Indians, workers, and the national project. Vilified the conquest and colonialism. Muralism was used to instill the values and goals of the Mexican Revolution and to instruct the (illiterate) masses. Rivera (1867-1957) and Kahlo (1907-1954) 32 Rivera 33 Rivera 34 Rivera 35 Rivera 36 Rivera 37 Rivera 38 Rivera 39 Edwardo Kingman: Ecuadorean Painter Son of Ecuadorian mother and American father. Professor at Quito’s School of Fine Arts. 1913-1997 Paintings of indigenous peoples and known as “the painter of hands.” Oswaldo Guayasamin: Ecuadorean Painter Poor indigenous-mestizo background. Traveled to other Latin American countries, including Mexico, where he met muralists. His art depicts oppression, racism, poverty, class divisions. 1919-1999