BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENTS AND SETBACKS: THE TRAJECTORY OF RACIAL EQUALITY POLICIES IN BRAZIL AND THE CHALLENGES OF INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

This article analyzes the trajectory of public policies for the promotion of racial equality in Brazil, examining their advances, setbacks, and institutional implementation challenges. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, based on a bibliographic review and documentary analysis of legal frameworks, institutional reports, and recent statistical data. Drawing on the works of Almeida (2019) and Munanga (2005), the study identifies structural racism as a persistent factor shaping social inequalities and constraining the effectiveness of affirmative policies, despite significant legal achievements such as the Racial Equality Statute and the Quota Law. The results indicate that, although educational inclusion and legal recognition have advanced since the 2000s, the institutional dismantling that began after 2016 weakened the continuity of racial equity programs. The study also highlights the need for intersectoral strategies integrating education, labor, health, and public security under an antiracist perspective, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It concludes that the consolidation of racial equality requires ongoing political commitment, social monitoring, and the active participation of Black movements. The research contributes by integrating theoretical, legal, and empirical dimensions, revealing the tension between law and practice, and suggesting further regional studies on the implementation and impacts of affirmative actions across Brazil.