This year 2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the sanctioning of the Afonso Arinos Law No. 1.390/1951, the first legislation to repress discriminatory practices of race or colour, and that despite its limited effectiveness became an important event in the fight for civil rights in the country, by opening paths for the creation of other legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination.
This legislation was created due to the incident of refusal of a São Paulo hotel to host the American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham, making it recognized the existence of racial prejudice in the Brazilian territory.
Thus, as a result of the creation of this law, July 3rd is celebrated as the National Day to Combat Racial Discrimination.
Beyond the guarantees already effected in our Constitution, awareness about social dynamics and the deconstruction of oppressive acts are necessary to the debate of inclusion and diversity that should be the responsibility of all of us, respecting the various ethnicities that make up our Brazilian socio-cultural history."
