The colour that dares not speak its name: schooling and ‘the myth of Portuguese anti-racism’

Abstract

There is a well-constructed myth about Portugal being more tolerant and non-racist than other societies, due to the specificities of its colonial past. In this communication, I will explore the discourse that embodies this myth, trying to understand its implications for the schooling of ethnic minority students. It is my view that it provides powerful discourses in education, helping to remove issues of racism off the agenda. Based on an ethnographic study of one state and one private school in predominantly White areas, with children of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds and genders, I use the example of racist name-calling to argue that even the most obvious forms of racism are being silenced at the school level. I conclude that, to eliminate discrimination, schools must develop practices that go beyond the celebration of cultural diversity and engage with the racialisation of our societies.