Na 'Casa do Povo', como a população negra é representada? Análise da representação política na Assembleia Legislativa do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (2015-2023)

Abstract

This research analyzes, within the scope of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (ALRN), how the black population is politically represented during the 61st (2015- 2018), the 62nd (2019-2022) and the 63rd (2023-2026) legislatures. To this end, after a brief characterization of the socio-historical processes that hindered a greater inclusion of brown and black people in the state's institutionalized decision-making spaces, the research assesses the descriptive representation within the racial composition of the Potiguar Parliament, and examines the substantive representation in legislative action with the purposeful interest of racial content of parliamentarians currently self-declared as brown and black, and also of selfclassified white parliamentarians. This is applied research, predominantly qualitative, documentary, exploratory and descriptive-interpretive, which is developed using content analysis based on public data made available by ALRN and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). Given the possibilities of the analysis, the results assume that the mere presence of descriptive representatives in the Legislative Branch does not necessarily mean that the interests of the black population are substantively represented. At the same time, being a self-defined white parliamentarian does not prevent one from acting in a responsive manner in relation to the inclusion, on the political agenda, of different themes that cut across the racial agenda. Although the direct association between the presence of self-defined brown and black representatives and responsive action in favor of their peers is not necessary, the research concludes that the inclusion of black people in political-decision-making spaces is contingent, for democratic representation that integrates varied social perspectives. Therefore, the development of public policies that are not racially exclusionary, but rather aimed at confronting black underrepresentation and other racial inequalities in politics of the Rio Grande do Norte and, consequently, in potiguar society is advocated.