Soldier and Scholar: Abdias Nascimento and the Origins of Afro-Latin American Studies

Abdias Nascimento shaped Brazil and the lives of Afro-Brazilians as an activist, a politician, internationally recognized scholar, through arts playwright, director, poet, painter. Through scholarly career that spanned much 20th century continued into 21st, his ideas preceded served model for recent growth Afro-Latin American studies discipline. This article draws on Nascimento’s writing to shed light less studied period when he was enrolled in Brazilian army São Paulo from 1930 1936, well two related periods during which incarcerated between 1936 1938. essay argues that—much like Afro-descendant soldiers globally who fought conflicts Wars Independence World century—military service subsequent captivity deeply inpacted Nascimento. His relations with military its penal institutions guided concept race, citizenship, nation, activism scholarship, subsequently helped mold contemporary field studies, directly indirectly.