Bridging Continents: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Transnational Dialogues on Race in Brazil

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) is widely recognized as one of the most influential sociologists of the 20th century, a pioneer in urban sociology and the study of race and inequality. Although Du Bois's scholarship often focused on the racial dynamics in the United States, his intellectual engagement extended globally, particularly to the African diaspora in Latin America, including Brazil. Du Bois's interest in Brazil stemmed from the country’s complex racial history and its status as the nation with the largest Black population outside Africa. Over the years, Du Bois actively corresponded with Brazilian political and intellectual elites, including writing to the president of Brazil and establishing a dialogue with Arthur Ramos (1903-1949), a renowned expert in Afro-Brazilian culture. His connection with Brazil also involved extensive communication with the American embassy, signaling his strategic approach to understanding the region's racial dynamics.This intellectual exchange was deepened through the work of Irene Diggs (1906-1998), Du Bois's assistant, who became the first African American woman to earn a PhD in anthropology, awarded by the University of Havana in 1945. Diggs conducted fieldwork in Brazil, further contributing to the comparative study of race. Together, Du Bois and Diggs fostered transnational dialogues with Brazilian scholars and activists, broadening the understanding of racial democracy and inequality. This paper examines these connections and their implications for the history of collaboration between Global North and South scholars, especially Black intellectuals, highlighting their shared commitment to combating racial injustices.