RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION BY RACE AND CLASS IN FORTALEZA, SALVADOR AND SÃO PAULO

This article deals with the importance of the race variable for the residential segregation contours in Brazilian cities. Our hypothesis is that there would be a general pattern of segregation characterized by the articulation between race and class, that is, we cannot reduce it to one of these dimensions or the other. However, this pattern should vary according to regional and local contexts. Our empirical strategy involved categorizing the population in different race and class groups and measuring residential segregation between each of these groups by widely used techniques. The results show that São Paulo and Salvador fit well into the postulated pattern, with evident racial differences in residential locations. Fortaleza, on the other hand, has lower levels of racial segregation and a higher prevalence of social class segregation. Thus, the article calls for further research on racial aspects of segregation and an expansion of comparative studies.