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Portugal, colonialism and racial justice – From denial to reparation

With the growth of the anti-racist movement in Portugal, our entire national narrative is being challenged, confronting us with the possibility of racism as a structural reality in Portugal. Are we a racist country?

By Rui Braga
Portugal, colonialism and racial justice – From denial to reparation
Punishment of a slave in Brazil, picture by Mauricio Rugendas (circa 1830) | - Public domain
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The most racist country is the one that is not aware of its own racism.

A dissonant identity

The slogan: "Portugal is a country of gentle manners" was crafted by Portugal's former authoritarian regime, which was overthrown in the famous Carnation Revolution of 1974. Through censorship and mass propaganda, the state had inculcated the belief that in Portugal, unlike in other countries, things generally take place in a nonviolent manner, in a climate of kindness and respect for others.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0