Banca de DEFESA: GUSTAVO PINTO ALVES DA SILVA

ACTIVITIES OF THE AFRO-BRAZILIAN STUDIES CENTER – NEAB AYÓ

Early Childhood Education; Childhoods; Ethnic-racial relations; Law 10,639/03; Afro-Brazilian Study Center.

 This thesis investigates the role of educational institutions in promoting respect for ethnic-racial diversity and in preparing children to deal with racial inequalities, with a focus on early childhood education. Recognizing the school as a space for socialization, citizenship, and critical formation, the study problematizes how the school environment can both reproduce and combat racial tensions, considering children's perceptions as a starting point for the construction of anti-racist practices. The research, of a socio-anthropological nature, was conducted with children aged 4 to 5 in a preschool class at the Clementino Fraga Municipal School, located in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The activities were based on the actions of the Center for Afro-Brazilian Studies (NEAB) AYÓ, created in 2015, with the objective of promoting an inclusive school environment and combating racism through the appreciation and recognition of ethnic-racial identities, especially black identities. The ethnographic methodology allowed an immersion in the cultural practices and interactions of the children, enabling active listening of their perceptions on racial issues.Preliminary results indicate that NEAB AYÓ activities have contributed significantly to the construction and redefinition of children's racial identity. For example, some children who previously identified as brown began to identify as black, while others who previously identified as white began to identify as brown. This movement suggests a positive impact on reflection on concepts such as blackness and whiteness, in addition to encouraging an anti-racist stance in children, including reporting racial offenses against peers. The research highlights the relevance of initiatives such as NEAB AYÓ in the formation of critical subjects and in the construction of a more just and inclusive society. By giving children a voice, the thesis reaffirms the importance of listening to their perceptions and experiences in order to advance the fight against racism and promote an education that respects and values sociocultural diversity.