O Presidente Negro ou O Choque das Raças (The Black President, or the Racial Shock) is a 1926 science fiction novel by the Brazilian writer Monteiro Lobato.
 First edition | |
| Author | Monteiro Lobato |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Companhia Editora Nacional (original edition) Editora Globo (current edition) |
Publication date | 1926 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 978-85-250-4468-6 (current edition) |
| OCLC | 232156392 |
Plot edit
Most of the action of the book takes place in the United States in 2228. In this world, racial intermingling is prohibited so that blacks and whites remain genetically pure. During the 2228 presidential election, the white male incumbent president, Kerlog, runs against a white feminist named Evelyn Astor. The black leader James Roy Wilde (Jim Roy) postpones his support for either candidate until one hour before the election, when he declares that he is a candidate. He wins in the 30-minute electronic voting, becoming the United States' 88th and first black president. However, the American whites plot to sterilize all blacks. Roy is found dead in his office, and then Kerlog wins in a re-election.[1][2]
Recent interest in the novel edit
After being out of print for forty years, O Presidente Negro was re-issued by the Brazilian publisher Editora Globo in March 2008, when Barack Obama's presidential campaign in the United States revived interest in the work. The book was advertised with the disclaimer, "Any resemblance to actual events is pure coincidence."[3]
References edit
- ^ Tom Phillips. "Presidents and presentiments". The Guardian. November 30, 2008. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
- ^ Manuela Zoninsein. "The Black President". Slate. September 30, 2008. Retrieved on January 19, 2008.
- ^ Joshua Goodman. "Obama Win Revives 1926 Brazil Novel on Black President". Bloomberg.com. November 21, 2008. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
External links edit
- O Presidente Negro title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Monteiro Lobato (2020). America's Black President 2228. Translated by Henry Phillips. ASIN B087Z5BFSF.
- Monteiro Lobato (2022). The Clash of the Races: Bilingual Edition (in English and Portuguese). Translated by Ana Lessa-Schmidt. New London Librarium. ISBN 978-1-947074-62-0.
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