The first Brazilian Eugenics Congress (1929): discussions around eugenics in Brazil

Abstract

Eugenics exerted great influence and fascination on Brazilian intellectuals, from the most varied areas of knowledge, conforming bills sent to the Chambers in the 1920s and 1930s. The concern about the country’s viability, given the high num-ber of mestizos and blacks, considered inferior and incapable, made eugenics attractive, being able to solve the national prob-lems linked to the category of race. With this article, we seek to understand the eugenic, especially its reception in Brazil, emphasizing the first Brazilian Congress of Eugenia, its organi-zation, proposals, discussions and results. For that, articles and books related to the subject and the works present in the Annals of the event will be used.