It has approximately 160 million people which means it is the second most populous nation in the western hemisphere after the United States. In physical size, it is larger than the 48 contiguous United States. One of the most impressive aspects of Brazilian society is the diversity of its population. Among many others, there are large numbers of and descendants of Portuguese, African peoples, Italians, Germans, Poles, Jews, Arabs and Japanese. It is interesting to observe how all of these groups interact to become part of the larger Brazilian social fabric.
Race takes on an entirely different meaning in Brazil.
I was particularly impressed with the seeming unconcern, at least in public, which people displayed with respect to race. My attitude to the racial and ethnic problems here in the United States have undergone a dramatic change as this experience in Brazil provided me with an alternative cultural framework with which to view some of the issues we are attempting to face here. The Brazilian people are very hard working and the vast majority live either in fairly modest circumstances or dire poverty. The nation is struggling to educate and employ its vast work force and is making some giant strides as it becomes more attractive to international investors. There is tremendous inequality in the amount of wealth held by those in the different classes.