Anti-racist education in the final years of elementary school: Machado de Assis’s short stories in an interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

This article examines the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach to anti-racist education, based on the short stories “Pai contra Mãe” and “O Caso da Vara”, by Machado de Assis. The qualitative research involved 27 students from the last cycle of elementary school, integrating Languages and Human Sciences in accordance with BNCC guidelines and the Curricular Guidelines for Education on Ethnic-Racial Relations. The approach adopted proposes that anti-racist education goes beyond the mere transmission of information and should raise awareness and establish a direct link to practical application in order to promote effective change. The results, analyzed using Bardin's methodology (2011), showed a deeper understanding of the historical aspects related to slavery, recognition of the importance of interdisciplinarity and an emotional awareness of racism. However, obstacles linked to the language used by Machado de Assis were identified, suggesting the need for pedagogical adaptations. The conclusion is that literature, when associated with an interdisciplinary approach, is a valuable resource for stimulating critical reflection on structural racism within civic education.