The Unlikely Latina/OS: Brazilians in the United States by Silvio Torres-Saillant

One of Silvio Torres-primary Saillant's points in his article The Unlikely Latina/OS: Brazilians in the United States is that political unrest and a challenging economic climate in Brazil were major factors in the country's population movement to the United States (Torres-Saillant, 466). Furthermore, the author claims that the U.S. administration was welcoming and encouraged people from Latin America, including Brazilians, to immigrate to and stay in the country for an extended period of time. The author also argues that, the U.S had an accepting culture which made more Brazilians of different traits come to the country such as the gay who were criticized and disrespected back in their countries felt at ease while in the United States. In the article, Silvio also points out some of the similarities between the Brazilians and Latinos such as their incorporation patterns into the US (Torres-Saillant, 467).

The intriguing aspect about the article is where it states that the leaders of the failed Minas Gerais sought help from the Americans such as Thomas Jefferson when they wanted to separate from the Portuguese rule to achieve a sovereign state. There were some American documents which were confiscated from the rebels of Minas Gerais such as the constitution which was already translated and published in French. Among these documents was the honorary doctorate to George Washington forcing of the British from Boston. There was also a document with words of Jefferson “See the fleets of Brazil and the United States riding together as brethren of the same family pursuing the same object” (Torres-Saillant, 468) Most of these confiscated items are not known by many people in America, and this is what makes it intriguing.

The reading provides a different perspective on personal experience; hence, people will respect, value, and appreciate the Brazilians after learning of their development and struggles they have experienced.

























Work Cited

Torres-Saillant, Silvio. "The Unlikely Latina/os: Brazilians in the United States." Latino Studies. Palgrave Macmillan. 1476-3435/08. 6.4 (2008): 466-477.