Race and ethnicity in Brazil

In Brazil, race and ethnicity are complex and interconnected concepts. Race generally refers to physical features like skin color, with categories such as Black, White, and Indigenous. Ethnicity relates to cultural identity, language, and heritage, like Afro-Brazilian or Portuguese descent. Brazil’s history of mixing different peoples has created a diverse society where identities often overlap, and classifications can be fluid. While official categories exist, many find them limiting, and personal identities can be shaped by social, cultural, and historical factors beyond strict labels.