Article title next to a photo of a black woman's face wearing a colorful turban in celebration of Black Awareness Day
Black Awareness Day, celebrated on November 20, is a significant date in the Brazilian calendar. Officially established as a national holiday in 2024, the day celebrates the struggles and achievements of the black population in the country, while recalling the challenges still faced in the search for racial equality. More than a simple tribute, Black Awareness Day is a moment of collective reflection on the consequences of slavery and the construction of a non-racist Brazil.
Why November 20th?
Black Awareness Day was chosen in reference to the death of Zumbi ukraine mobile database dos Palmares in 1695. Leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares, Zumbi became a symbol of resistance against slavery and the fight for freedom. Palmares, located in the region that is now Alagoas, was one of the largest strongholds of black resistance in the Americas, sheltering thousands of people fleeing the slave regime.
Although the abolition of slavery was proclaimed in 1888, the impacts of the slavery system remained deeply rooted in Brazilian society, resulting in structural inequalities. Black Consciousness Day, therefore, is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural and historical legacy of the black population, as well as promote debates on overcoming racism.
The evolution of the recognition of Black Consciousness Day
Initially, Black Awareness Day was not widely recognized. The idea began to gain traction in the 1970s, with the creation of the Unified Black Movement (MNU), which sought to rescue the memory of Zumbi dos Palmares and bring to the fore discussions about racism, culture and identity.