Brazil and the Americas in Gilberto Freyre: from the veins opened by colonization to the open veins for the future: from the veins opened by colonization to the open veins for the future

Abstract

The text presents two antagonistic arguments by Brazilian sociologist Gilberto Freyre, which allow explaining both the difficulty of integration between the Portuguese and Spanish Americas, as well as the elements of approximation in a transnational narrative. First, in order to contrast with later ideas, the argument of Casa-Grande & Senzala (1933) will be presented, in which the Americas appear differentiated by the state of culture of the native peoples and by the resources and intentions of the colonizers. Then, the focus falls on three “minor” texts by Freyre, from the 1960s. In them, whether in the key of Iberian time, or in the idea of ​​a Latinity related to American Christianity, or even of the topicalized incorporation of European elements, the The Americas are approaching, appearing as a complex capable of playing a leading role as civilizational alternatives.