We are delighted to welcome Prof. Kelly Cristina de Oliveira from the Instituto Federal de São Paulo, Brazil, for our next ROLLS seminar!
?️ Racism and Racial Literacy in Elite Schools of São Paulo: The Materiality of Language and the Reproduction of Inequality
? 4 November
? 1–2 pm
? Fulton 101 or Teams
Teams link:
Abstract
This presentation examines how racism operates structurally and symbolically in elite schools in São Paulo, moving beyond the notion of individual prejudice. From a critical perspective (Fairclough, Butler, Bourdieu), it argues that language is not merely a mirror of reality but a form of material violence that produces biological, psychological, and social effects. The study analyzes recent cases (Colégio Porto Seguro, 2022; Escola Vera Cruz, 2024) to demonstrate how recreational racism and symbolic violence are often trivialized or treated merely as disciplinary issues, especially when they gain media visibility. It concludes that punishment alone is insufficient, making it imperative to adopt critical racial literacy as a transformative pedagogical process to deconstruct hierarchies and promote equity
Everyone is welcome!
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By: Alba Arias Alvarez
Last updated: Tuesday, 13 October 2026