A dialética da civilização brasileira: evolucionismo e racialismo entre Sílvio Romero e Manoel Bomfim

Abstract

The publication of Manoel Bomfim's inaugural work sparked a vehement reaction from his fellow countryman Sílvio Romero. The prominent intellectual soon took to the pages of the newspapers with all his verve in opposition to the arguments put forward by Bomfim. In short, the doctor advocated overcoming the principles of racial superiority. However, despite the differences, both authors had the same goal of turning Brazil into a civilized nation, but the means of achieving that end differed. In practice, the debate between the authors represented a synthesis of the contemporary situation of both authors. On an external level, European imperialist expansion, justified by the concept of racial superiority of that population, and, on an internal level, Brazil's transition to another reality. In this new moment, although important structural changes were taking place, the Brazilian agro-export sector was controversially reaffirmed, and significantly took a position in favor of the hegemonic racial discourse in order to protect its interests. As a result, Romero and Bomfim both reflected on and positioned themselves with regard to this particular moment in Brazil's historical and social trajectory.