Florestan Fernandes

Florestan Fernandes was a Brazilian sociologist and politician who advocated for a critical and transformative sociology. He was born on July 22, 1920, in São Paulo, a city in southeastern Brazil. He came from a poor family and worked as a shoeshine boy and a waiter while attending school. He enrolled in law school in 1941, but never practiced law. Instead, he became interested in sociology and joined the University of São Paulo as a researcher and later a professor. He wrote many books and articles on topics such as race relations, social movements, education, and democracy. He was influenced by Marxism and developed a hybrid perspective that challenged orthodox theory and conventional leftist practice. He was considered one of the most influential sociologists in Brazil and Latin America. He also participated in political and social causes, such as the literacy movement and the workers' party. He was elected federal deputy twice and was involved in the drafting of the 1988 Constitution. He died on August 10, 1995, in São Paulo, due to cancer. He was 75 years old. He received many honors and awards, such as the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, the King Baudouin International Development Prize, and the Order of Rio Branco. He also inspired the creation of the Florestan Fernandes Institute, which promotes his legacy and vision in various countries.