Being Black in Brazil is dangerous.
— Laís Rocha Neves2022
Laís Rocha Neves
Laís Rocha Neves is a graduate student in History from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In the full interview, Neves discusses the dangers of being a Black woman in Brazil, the need for resilience against the racial violence and oppression ingrained within Brazilian society, and the importance of community forged through music and dance. This interview was conducted in Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Watch the full interviewConversation Transcript
Being black in Brazil is dangerous, above all, it’s violent, it’s being subject to unimaginable violence – and as a black woman, that violence is only more specific and horrible. To be black in Brazil is to have a lot, a lot of courage, a lot, a lot of resilience and a lot, a lot of desire to continue… Of continuing in this country, of waking up every day, getting out of bed, going to work, returning home, kissing your parents, your children, your grandmothers. It takes a lot of courage to be black in our country.
