Black Awareness Day state holiday is approved in SP and comes into force this year; look

After the sanction of the state government on the 13th, São Paulo gained another holiday on the calendar. Black Awareness Day, celebrated on November 20, was designated as state holiday.

The law that makes this date official in the federation calendar was sanctioned by governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) also on September 13th, having been published in the Official State Gazette (DONATE).

The holiday is a tribute to Zumbi dos Palmares, one of the last leaders of Quilombo dos Palmares. His death was registered on November 20, 1695, in Alagoas. Betrayed and among the troops of the bandeirantes, he became a symbol of black resistance.

The decision made and its meaning

Authored by deputy Teonilio Barba (PT), Bill No. 17,746/23 was the base text for the decision. The objective with the new state holiday is to enhance the importance of the debate about African people and culture in Brazil through various areas such as politics, religion, music, among others.

“It is a debt owed by the Brazilian state to our black people, a historic debt that Brazil has. It is an important gesture from the governor to recognize the issue. The fight does not stop with the approval of the holiday on November 20th”, wrote Teonilio Barba on social media.

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In 2003, Federal Law 10,639 established the obligation to teach Afro-Brazilian history and culture in schools, incorporating the Black conscience day as a holiday in the educational calendar. This made the date effective as a holiday for schools across the country.

New holiday for the state of São Paulo

Previously considered only a municipal holiday in the capital of São Paulo, the decision taken now means that the date becomes a public holiday throughout the state.

The new holiday is much more than just a day workers can have off. The date reinforces the need to discuss issues involving people of African descent and black skin in Brazil.