In this article I reflect on the controversy generated in the higher education expansion context in Brazil by the quotas measure for black and indigenous students at the University, to see what the discourses reveal about the perceptions of affirmative actions. To do this, I analyze two manifestos delivered to the National Congress in 2006 by Brazilian intellectuals who laid their position publicly in relation to the quota policy. The analysis, guided by a conception of Bakhtinian language, shows that the concept of “affirmative action” appeared in dispute: first it is taken as a racist measure and it is percieved as unequal while on second place it is understood as a measure of racism deconstruction. By characterizing the debate in the Brazilian scenario, I sought to contribute to the construction of a regional overview on race and affirmative actions in the Latin American context.