Here in Brazil, we have many holidays, and one of them is November 20th. It is called Black Consciousness Day, and it’s a tribute to a very important historical figure, Zumbi dos Palmares. Besides, the date represents a whole discussion about black people in society, racism and resistance inside a white context, how is the majority of middle class’ places.
But why is this so important? You may not know, but in our country, black people represents 54% of population. Even so, racism happens every day, and part of this statistic doesn’t even know they are black. Crazy, huh?
Historically, Brazil was colonized by Portugal. The whole White European culture was brought here, along with slavery and torture with, guess what? Black africans. Who could escape from farms or just went free could go to quilombos, black communities where they could feel safe.
On November 20th, 1695, the last leader of Quilombo dos Palmares, the biggest on that time, was killed by the Bandeirantes, some kind of Brazilian warriors with Portuguese ascendants. Black people continued to be battered and enslaved, until 1888, when they got free. But it just got worse.
They couldn’t enter society, they didn’t have opportunity and even now, black people still suffer with this past heritage. Most of them can’t go to university, can’t get a good job and, even worse, are arrested and killed by the cops even if they are innocent, only because of their skin color.
Thinking about that, November 20th gains much more importance. Lívia Martins, member of Africásper, a black casperian community, told us that it’s not only the death of Zumbi. “It’s a reflection of what us, black people, represent in society. We learn and appreciate what is our culture, identity, what we are”.
She also said that this date is like a third New Year, along with her birthday and New Year’s Eve, in terms of renew values, blackness and self-love. “Everything that I’ve been through the year is gone, and I feel strong again to fight for another 365 days”.
Bruna Cambraia is also member of Africásper, and reminded us of why the word “consciousness” is so important. “Until I went to college, I didn’t have this conscious that I am a black woman. It was only when I got to read, study and when I found Africásper, that I understood the meaning of resistance inside a place mostly white and elitist”.
Africásper members at the event about the Genocide of the Brazilian Black Youth
When we say that most blacks doesn’t recognize their skin color, it’s because of colorism. “This term defines the huge plurality of skin colors of people who identifies themselves as black. There are lots of tones, but we can’t say brown, it’s black”, says Bruna, “On November 20th, institutes can show Brazilian people what is this consciousness, how to have it and ways to be discovered black”.
Inside Cásper Líbero, we have some social groups of discussion and debates about minorities that deserve a space, as woman, LGBT and black people. Named Africásper, the community of black Casperians is the newest, and reunite everyone who wants to learn about what is like to be black in a mostly white society.
There are also reunions destined only for black members, where they can feel safe to share personal experiences and unburden situations that offended them, so they can all get strong together.
“It’s like a therapy”, says Bruna, “because we can recognize ourselves in others, and see that we are not alone. Besides, we can aware white people and deconstruct racism together, after all, Brazil is not formed by only black people. We need to hold hands and talk about it”.
Cásper has mostly white people, both students and teachers. “If even us blacks has racism naturalized in our heads, imagine whites”, alert Bruna. “It’s not because college is a young and learned space that racism will not exist. It does”.
So, we know that having a Black Consciousness Day is a date of strength, for everyone in Brazil. Black people can reassure their culture and presence in society, and white can learn and question their own attitudes toward minority groups, that ironically, is majority in numbers of population’s race. After all, it’s a moment of reflection, that needs to be remembered and exalted.