Darcy Ribeiro (1922-1997) was a Brazilian anthropologist, sociologist, educator, writer, and politician. He stood out for his work in defense of the indigenous cause.
Darcy Ribeiro was born in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, on October 26, 1922. He studied at the Gonçalves Chaves School and the Episcopal Gymnasium of Montes Claros. He moved to São Paulo and entered the School of Sociology and Politics, graduating in Social Sciences.
Between 1949 and 1951, he worked at the Indian Protection Service. He was a professor of Anthropology at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation’s School of Public Administration and taught Brazilian Ethnography and the Tupi Language at the National Philosophy College.
In the 1950s, he organized and began directing the Museum of the Indian at the Indian Protection Service. He collaborated in the founding of the Xingu Indigenous National Park, in the region of the current State of Mato Grosso do Sul. He wrote several works in defense of the indigenous cause and organized the first Anthropology course at the University of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro.
At the end of the 1950s, he coordinated the Division of Social Studies and Research at the Brazilian Center for Educational Research, was responsible for the Social Research sector of the National Campaign for the Eradication of Illiteracy, and became a member of the National Council for the Protection of Indians. He also conducted field research with indigenous groups in the States of Santa Catarina, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Goiás.
During the government of President Jânio Quadros, he was appointed Minister of Education. In João Goulart’s government, he was Chief of the Civil House. In 1964, he had his political rights revoked and was exiled in Chile and Peru. In 1976, back in Brazil, he dedicated himself to public education. During Leonel Brizola’s government, he implemented the Integrated Public Education Centers (CIEP) in Rio de Janeiro. Between 1983 and 1987, he was the vice-governor of Rio de Janeiro, and in 1991, he was a senator for Rio de Janeiro.
He wrote several works on ethnology, anthropology, education, as well as novels. His last work, in 1995, was “The Brazilian People – the Formation and Meaning of Brazil.” He was elected to chair number 11 of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He is the patron of chair number 28 of the Historical and Geographical Institute of Montes Claros.
Darcy Ribeiro passed away in Brasília on February 17, 1997.
Source: www.ebiografia.com, by Dilva Frazão.