Published in 1933, Casa-Grande e Senzala (The Masters and the Slaves) is a book by Gilberto Freyre

Gilberto Freyre

Gilberto de Mello Freyre was a Brazilian sociologist, anthropologist, historian, writer, painter and congressman. His best-known work is a sociological treatise named Casa-Grande & Senzala...

, about the formation of the Brazilian society. The "Casa-Grande" (big house) refers to the landlords residences in sugar plantations, where whole towns were owned and managed by one man. The "Senzala" refers to the dwelling of the Black working class, where they originally worked as slaves, and later as servants.

In Freyre's

Gilberto Freyre

Gilberto de Mello Freyre was a Brazilian sociologist, anthropologist, historian, writer, painter and congressman. His best-known work is a sociological treatise named Casa-Grande & Senzala...

 opinion, the architecture of the Casa-Grande, was an expression of a patriarchal

Patriarchy

Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...

 society. In this book the author refutes the idea that Brazil would have an "inferior race" because of race-mixing. He points to the positive elements that permeate the Brazilian cultural formation because of miscegenation (especially between Portuguese, Indians and blacks).

The book deals with race/class separation, and miscegenation

Miscegenation

Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....

and is generally considered a classic of modern cultural anthropology.