Blessed Anastacia: Women, Race, and Popular Christianity in Brazil

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant integration of race, class, gender and religion
Review: In a course on Afro-Brazilians, this book was by far the favourite of the class. It's pleasurable to read, no prior knowledge of Brazilian culture is necessary, and it provides insights even to scholars in the field. It brings to life the situation of black women in poverty in Brazil, describing the role of religion and Brazil's attitude towards race. Burdick illustrates the complexity of race and the effects on the women he interviewed, and ties it all to the curious figure of Anastácia, the blue-eyed slave.

And rather than being a lofty academic exercise, Burdick uses his research and involvement in the communities to help advance their social situation. One chapter describes his attempts to promote communication between groups which have radically different approaches to the same goal of ending racism. This is academia with its feet firmly planted in the ground.