The Discourses of Blanqueamiento: A Multilateral Analysis of 19th Century Racial Ideologies in the Making of Modern Argentina

Abstract

This thesis explores the Argentine racial whitening project or Blanqueamiento of the 19th century, that was created to systematically, physically, and culturally wipe out the Afro-Argentine community who had existed in the country from its official conception. Using the published works and ideologies of both White and Black Argentines I seek to create a conversation between racist ideologies that sought to eradicate Blackness from Argentina as a means to creating a White Argentine identity , as well as the voices of Afro-Argentines who I assert were active agents in the determining their own role in this tempestuous history.