BEYOND THE COMET

WHITE SUPREMACY THOUGHT THROUGH DISASTER

Authors

Keywords:

Branquitude, W.E.B Du Bois, O Cometa

Abstract

This paper explores the dystopian narrative of the short story The Comet (1920), by W.E.B. Du Bois, to discuss the dynamics of whiteness and white supremacy. Through an apocalyptic metaphor, Du Bois portrays the relationship between two survivors — Jim, a Black man, and Julia, a white woman — highlighting how racial power structures persist and reorganize even in scenarios of social collapse. The analysis connects the work to critical theories on white racial identity, engaging with Bento's (2002, 2022) discussions on narcissistic pacts, Fanon's (2020) reflections on colonial dehumanization, and Cardoso's (2010) studies on critical and uncritical whiteness. Thus, this study contributes to highlighting the complexity of racial hierarchies and the ways in which white privileges are reconfigured to perpetuate themselves, even in complex social contexts.

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Author Biographies

Davi Barbosa, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

Master’s student in Education (UFES), specialist in Natural Sciences, Their Technologies and the World of Work (UFPI), holds a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences (UFES), and is currently pursuing a degree in Pedagogy at the same institution. Researcher at the LitERÊtura Group.

Hiasmim Silva, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

Bachelor's degree in History and Master's student in History at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). Member of the Laboratory of Theory of History and Historiography (LETHIS - UFES) and part of the Center for Studies and Research in Education and Philosophy (NEPEFIL - UFES).

Débora Cristina de Araujo, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

Ph.D. and Master’s in Education from the Federal University of Paraná. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Languages – Portuguese/English (2003) from the State University of Paraná, Paranavaí Campus. Professor of Ethnic-Racial Relations in Education in the Department of Teaching Theories and Educational Practices at the Center for Education, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). Permanent faculty member of the Professional Graduate Program in Education (PPGPE) and the Graduate Program in Education (PPGE), both at UFES. Coordinates LitERÊtura – Study and Research Group on Ethnic-Racial Diversity, Children’s Literature, and Other Cultural Products for Childhood. Her research focuses on children’s and youth literature; education and ethnic-racial relations; education and diversity; pedagogical practices; and Critical Discourse Analysis.

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Published

2026-01-02

How to Cite

BARBOSA DE JESUS, D.; DA SILVA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO, H.; DE ARAUJO, D. C. BEYOND THE COMET: WHITE SUPREMACY THOUGHT THROUGH DISASTER. Revista Historiar, [S. l.], v. 17, n. 33, p. 459–577, 2026. Disponível em: //historiar.uvanet.br/index.php/1/article/view/594. Acesso em: 15 mar. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 33 (2025): Intelectuais negros/as na (re)construção das Ciências Humanas e Sociais

Section

Dossiê

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Davi Barbosa, Hiasmim Silva, Débora Cristina de Araujo

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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