The Factor of Race

In class, we learned about the many countries of Latin America and their fight for independence from their "mother countries." In Brazil, they experienced the most peaceful transition from a country ruled by Portugal to and independent country. It started when King John VI arrived in Brazil as Portugal's prince regent in 1808. By 1815, John VI had elevated the status of Brazil to a kingdom. An uprising in Portugal from Portugal's army in 1820 forced John VI to return to Portugal in 1821 and leave his son, Pedro, in charge of the kingdom. In 1822, Pedro declared independence for Brazil. Finally in 1824, Pedro wrote and enacted a constitution for Brazil and in 1825, Portugal recognized Brazil as an independent country. In this revolution, race was not a factor. This allowed for less bloodshed during the revolution, but it also meant that slavery was not identified or dealt with. Not focussing on race meant there was a longer lasting hierarchy in the country and more social class divisions.

Though race  did not play a role in the revolutions of Brazil, it did play a major one in the trials that recently occurred in Ferguson, Missouri between a black teenager who was shot and killed by a white police officer. In the article "Darren Wilson Resigns from Police Department," the author William Welch explains how these trials have forced Darren Wilson, the police officer to resign from his job. Based on the jury's decision, they did not indict Wilson, who had killed Michael Brown a few months prior. Riots broke out in Ferguson, a mainly black community, because they felt this white officer had wrongly treated this black teenager who was meaning no harm. It was said that if Wilson kept his job at the Police Station, the lives of the officers and community would be at risk. Wilson would not allow this to happen and willingly resigned from being a police officer.  



Welch, William. "Darren Wilson Resigns from Ferguson Police Department." USA Today. Gannett, 1 Dec. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/29/woman-loses-eye-ferguson/19660629/>.