While Afro-Brazilians make up nearly half of Brazil's population, they are under-represented in businesses, especially in the upper echelons. Some businesses in Brazil are developing initiatives to promote diversity that seek to increase the representation of Afro-Brazilians among other historically discriminated groups in the private sector. During five months, the author of this report investigated and interviewed representatives of these diversity initiatives in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It analyzes the situation of blacks in the labor market and in businesses, the ethical and economic justifications for diversity initiatives, and the strategies and results of such initiatives.
Blacks; diversity; human resources; corporate social responsibility; social private investment