School and ethnic-racial relations: an analysis of student’s statements

Abstract

The article examines the statements made by students of a public school in the state of Rio Grande do Sul about ethnic and racial markers operating in the institution and the city where they live: a municipality belonging to a region of German colonization. As theoretical contributions, the study is based on theories of the post-structuralist field on race, ethnicity and the constitution of the subject. The research material surveyed consists of interviews and questionnaires answered by students of a group of the 8th year of Elementary School. In methodological terms, an ethnography was performed, the data being scrutinized from the discourse analysis perspective, as proposed by Michel Foucault. The analysis showed that black students do not recognize their blackness, calling themselves “brown” or “darkish”. In addition, students deny the existence of racism in school, even stating that racist practices are experienced in the municipality.