The Brazilian Black Front and the Newspaper A Voz da Raça: Strategies for Political and Social Mobilization in 1930s Brazil

Abstract

This article examines the role of the Frente Negra Brasileira (FNB) and its newspaper, A Voz da Raça, in challenging the racialized structure of Brazil’s social contract during the 1930s. Historically, the Brazilian social contract was built on the exclusion and subjugation of the Black population, perpetuating a system of racial and social domination. The FNB, founded in 1931, marked a turning point by promoting affirmative actions aimed at social, economic, and political inclusion. Through A Voz da Raça, the organization articulated a counter-hegemonic narrative that sought to empower and mobilize Black communities against systemic oppression. Drawing on primary sources and critical race theory, the study adopts a methodological approach combining archival and interpretive discourse analysis. It also refutes claims that the FNB aligned with integralist ideology, highlighting the organization’s internal progressive faction and cultural and political strategies. The article explores the deracialization of Brazil’s social contract, laying the groundwork for further research on systemic transformation and the enduring struggle for racial justice and inclusion in Brazilian society.