How did Black Consciousness Day come about

The creation of the Black Consciousness Day took place in 1971, in Porto Alegre, at the initiative of the Palmares Group.

The celebration has been part of the school calendar since 2003 and was instituted throughout Brazil in 2011.

The date chosen was November 20, when black leader Zumbi dos Palmares died.

Origin of the National Day of Black Consciousness

In 1971, black university students got together to create the Palmares Group, in Porto Alegre (RS). Among them were the Gaucho poet Oliveira Silveira (1941-2009), Vilmar Nunes, Ilmo da Silva and Antônio Carlos Cortes.

Oliveira Silveira
The poet Oliveira Silveira was one of the creators of the Black Awareness Day

One of the objectives was to protest against the veto of the presence of black boys in a club in the city of Rio Grande do Sul and to discuss the situation of black people.

In this first meeting, in a room at the Marcílio Dias club, the creation of a date to celebrate black culture is also discussed.

May 13 was traditionally used for this purpose, but some people did not feel represented. Despite being the day of the Abolition of slavery, it was a moment that recalled a gesture performed by a white person, the

Princess Isabel.

Therefore, when listening to the story of the Quilombo de Palmares and its leader, Zumbi, the members of Grupo Palmares identified themselves.

So, they chose November 20, the date of death of Zumbi dos Palmares, as being the ideal day for the appreciation of black culture.

With the creation of the Unified Black Movement against Racial Discrimination (MNU), on July 7, 1978, in São Paulo, the date gained more popularity.

That same year, São Paulo writer Osvaldo de Camargo (1936), through the MNU, proposed that November 20 be Black Consciousness Day.

Learn more about Black Consciousness Day: November 20th.

Black Consciousness in Brazil

it is understood by Black Consciousness understanding the importance of black culture and history in the world.

Throughout the 20th century there were several movements that denounced the racism in Brazil. Likewise, they demanded greater participation of the black population in the artistic, intellectual and political spheres.

Newspapers such as “A Alvorada”, which appeared in 1907, in Rio Grande do Sul; "O Clarim d'Alvorada" or "Progresso", in São Paulo, were produced by blacks.

Zombie
Zumbi dos Palmares

Similarly, the Companhia Negra de Revista (1926) or the Teatro Experimental do Negro (1944) sought to make room for black artists in society.

In the political field, we can highlight the Brazilian Black Front, in 1931, closed with the emergence of the Estado Novo, in 1937.

In this way, we realize that resistance movements and movements for the valorization of black culture and heritage have always existed in Brazil.

There are more texts on this subject for you:

  • Phrases for Black Consciousness Day
  • Brazilian Black Personalities
  • 12 Inspiring Black Women
  • Main Characteristics of Afro-Brazilian Culture
  • Abolition of Slavery in Brazil
  • black movement
  • Quilombos
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