article

The lessons of slavery: discourses of slavery, mestizaje, and blanqueamiento in an elementary school in Puerto Rico

American ethnologist35 (1) • Published In 2008 • Pages: 115-135

By: Godreau, Isar P., Reyes Cruz, Mariolga, Franco Ortiz, Mariluz, Cuadrado, Sherry.

Abstract
The ethnographic research for this article was conducted primarily with a third grade class at the Luisa Rodriguez Elementary School in Cayey, Puerto Rico (school name is a pseudonym). School history texts were examined in their coverage of slavery issues and it was found that in general they tended to trivialize and simplify the history of slavery in Puerto Rico. These maneuvers resulted in the creation of a certain degree of distance between the concept of "blackness" and Puerto Rican identity and silence racism while upholding racial democracy and [n]blanqueamiento[/n] (whiteness) as a social value.
Subjects
Racial identification
Slavery
Ethnic stratification
Ethnosociology
Cultural identity and pride
Elementary education
Teachers
Publishing
culture
Puerto Ricans (Island)
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub Region
Caribbean
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2012
Field Date
2005-2006
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Cayey, Puerto Rico
Notes
Isar P. Godreau, Mariolga Reyes Cruz, Mariluz Franco Ortiz, Sherry Cuadrado
Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-135)
LCCN
74644326
LCSH
Puerto Ricans