POLS 290 Final Paper Democratic Protest and the Interconnection Between Authors Nathan Turner The current major socio-political challenges and global movements allow for the calling for change. Forms of democratic protest stand as a powerful portrayal of the dreams and frustrations of different groups of people all around the world. Recent global protests, from Hong Kong to Brazil, have shown how local and global political theory’s intersection is complex and dynamic. History, culture, and social conditions influence the concepts of democracy and protest. This essay examines how local political issues, identities, and activism interact with these thematic concepts, using the writings of Peng Yu and Ananda Vilela with Marta Fernández as case …show more content…
Nascimento focused on the historical and cultural context of Brazil, particularly the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle against racial inequality. His work challenged the myth of "racial democracy" in Brazil, which falsely claimed that the country had achieved racial harmony post-abolition. According to Vilela and Fernández, "Nascimento draws attention to masked racism, genocide against Black people and the multiple attempts to whiten the population". Nascimento’s concept of Quilombismo draws on the history of Quilombos (communities of escaped slaves that resisted colonial rule and maintained African cultural practices). These communities served as models for a more just and democratic society, embracing collective and cooperative principles contrary to capitalist individualism. The local political context of Brazil, characterized by systemic racism and economic inequality, shaped Nascimento's vision of democracy and resistance. His establishment of the Black Experimental Theater (TEN) in 1944 was a significant step in promoting Afro-Brazilian culture and challenging the dominant white aesthetic standards. Nascimento's TEN aimed to "promote their rise from a folkloric condition to that of subjects and heroes of the stories they presented". Nascimento’s activism extended beyond the theater, encompassing broader political and social efforts. He was involved in the First Congress of Brazilian Blacks in 1950, which he described as a platform for Black people to