ETHNICITY IN MOTION: SEARCH FOR ETHNIC-DESCRIPTIVE CRITERION IN THE HAITIAN MOBILITY IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on ethnics aspects present in Haitian migration to/in Brazil and how they come manifesting. The methodology used in this paper addresses multiple issues, like reflect from the theories on ethnicity and dialogue with reports of our fieldwork with participant observation. We admitted theoretically under the concepts of "interethnic friction" (CARDOSO DE OLIVEIRA, 1981), as the process resulting from the encounter between different ethnics groups in an unequal power relationship without, however, be a less strong be acculturated, and of "diacritics signals" (CUNHA, 1986), understood as the means by which the groups identify their members and, at the same time are distinguished from others in the construction of their cultural identities. The Haitian mobility by Brazil poses several issues under discussion and the ethnic-descriptive criterion is in evidence. We seek, therefore, a reflection on the size of the Brazilian’s experimentation of otherness with Haitians and ask what is the limit of it strangeness or a racist ethnocentrism.