“What do I write here, teacher?”: Notes on the meanings of racial classification (self and hetero) in affirmative action policies

Abstract

The article reflects the procedures of Universidade Federal Fluminense during the registration of approved students by SISU in 2018. In compliance with law nº. 12990/2014 e Orientação Normativa nº 3, de 01/08/2016, do Ministério do Planejamento, Desenvolvimento e Gestão instituting mandatory commissions for the assessment of self-declared black and indigenous candidates, we conducted one of these examining boards. Reserving vacancies in competitions is a historical demand of black movements, creating public policies of affirmative action. It is intended to problematize how the regulation of racial quotas is positive as a public policy because it recognizes racism as structuring inequalities in Brazil. However, this proves to be a social technology based on systematic suspicion, generating legal insecurity in the evaluations of “pardos”, as well as the resurgence of phenotypic criteria, procedures considered legitimate to ensure the right to vacancy at public universities, which may result in a non-place for light-skinned blacks.