The propose of this article is to examine affirmative actions which benefit the black population, taking as its argument the controversy about the institution of a programme of racial quotas, especially in public universities. It concludes that such a programme represents a landmark in the country's history: on the one hand, because it is the first time that the Brazilian state seeks to make amends for past (and present) injustices to the black population and, on the other, because it also represents the first time that public national opinion has been so involved in the problem of anti-black racism and in discussing possible solutions.
Negro; racism; inequality; discrimination; race relations