In this paper, we tried to understand the recent transformations of racial and
cultural fields in Brazil, specially in Bahia, the most black city in Brazil.
Firstly, the historical formation of racism is examined, through relations and
values issued from slavery, scientist theories, whitening policy and the myth of
racial democracy. Then, the usages of cultural african heritage are discussed to
understand the current formation of new identity models among Afro-Brazilian
people.