Black Feminism: books, films and series that talk about the movement

O black feminism, a movement that advocates for the rights of black women, is one of the forms of struggle for Afro aggrandizement. This empowerment is increasingly present in society.

The resistance of the black woman is manifested in the volume of the blackpowerin the density of dreadlocksin the battle cries during the manifestations and mainly, when they manage to occupy spaces that do not accept them. In addition, this strength is also present in the culture🇧🇷

To better understand black feminism and all symbology that this fight has, we brought some examples of books, series, movies that guide this topic. Check out:

BOOKS

Carolina Maria de Jesus – Eviction Room (1960)

The book reproduces the diary of author Carolina Maria de Jesus, in which she narrates her daily life in poor communities in the city of São Paulo. In her account, she describes the pain, suffering, hunger and anguish of the favelados, being considered one of the landmarks of female and black writing in Brazil. The book has been translated into over 13 languages ​​since it was released. It describes Carolina’s experiences between 1955 and 1960.

Carolina was a Brazilian writer, considered one of the first and most important black national writers. The author lived most of her life in the favela of Canindé, in the north of São Paulo, supporting herself and her three children as a paper picker. In 1958, it was discovered by the journalist Audálio Dantaspublishing the book.

Conceição Evaristo – Alleys of Memory (2006)

One of the most highly regarded memorialist novels in contemporary national literature. Conceição translates, through its many characters, human complexity and the negative feelings experienced daily, such as helplessness, racism, hunger and misery. However, all this without losing the lyricism and delicacy in his writing.

Conceicao Evaristo is master in lbrazilian literature for the PUC-Rio and doctor in lcomparative literature for the Federal Fluminense University🇧🇷 His works address issues such as racial, gender and class discrimination.

Ana Maria Gonçalves – A Color Defect (2006)

It tells the story of an African who, already visually impaired and very weak, travels to Brazil in search of her son who has been missing for decades. Along the way, she recounts her life, marked by deaths, slavery and rape. Ana Maria makes a connection between fiction and historical facts that revolved around the period of slavery, whose consequences still linger.

Ana Maria Gonçalves tworked like advertising in Sao Paulobut left the profession in 2002 to live in Itaparica and be able to dedicate yourself to writing.

Angela Davis – Women, Race and Class (1981)

Angela’s most important work, the book outlines a powerful historical and extremely critical overview of the feminist, anti-racist and anti-slavery struggle. The work is considered a starting point for understanding black feminism and the entire sexist and racial issue involved, going through the contemporary dilemmas of women.

Angela Davis is teacher and philosopher socialist American which achieved worldwide popularity in 1970s as a member of Communist Party of the United StatesFrom black Panthersfor her militancy for women’s rights and against social and racial discrimination.

bell hooks – Ensinando A Transgredir (1994)

Bell writes about a new type of education, education as a practice of freedom. For her, teaching students to transgress racial, sexual, gender and class boundaries in order to achieve the gift of freedom is the teacher’s most important goal. A practical knowledge of the classroom is associated with a deep connection with the world of emotions and feelings. It is one of the rare books about teachers and students that dares to raise critical questions about gender and its nuances.

Gloria Jean Watkins, best known for pseudonym bell hooks (written in lower case🇧🇷is authortheoretical feminist🇧🇷 artist and social activist american🇧🇷 The writer has more than 30 books and numerous academic articles, has appeared in several films and documentaries, and has participated in several public lectures.

Maria Firmina dos Reis – Ursula (1859)

It is considered the first novel published by a woman in Brazil. It is also the first abolitionist novel in Brazilian literature and also the first novel in Afro literature, being written by a black woman. The ultra-romantic love story between Úrsula and Tancredo has the theme of blacks as a background from a perspective committed to narrating the Afro experience in Brazil.

Maria Firmina dos Reis, n.egra and bastard, faced the barrier of prejudices and published in 1859, his first book. He collaborated with literary journals and, in 1880, founded a free and mixed school, for boys and girls, which caused scandal in the town of Maçaricó, in Guimarães. The school closed three years later.

MOVIE THEATER

Cross Stories (2012)

It’s a movie from dramabased on the book eponymous novel in Kathryn Stockett🇧🇷 The film is a portrait of a white woman, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, and her relationship with two black maids during the American civil rights era in the 1960s. Skeeter is a journalist who decides to write a book from the perspective of maids. (known as “The Help“), showing how they are suffering racism in white homes.

The cast of the film includes the renowned actress Viola Davis🇧🇷

The Color Purple (1985)

In a small town, lives Celie, a 14-year-old girl who was raped by her father and becomes the mother of two children. In addition to losing the ability to procreate, Celie is immediately separated from her children and the only person in the world who loves her, her sister, and is donated to “Mister” (Danny Glover), who treats her simultaneously as a slave and companion.

Increasingly silent and lonely, she begins to share her sadness in a letter. A survivor ofbus sexual and moral, celie write letters to God and to your sister nettie 🇧🇷akosua busia), narrating everything that she has to bear. Through all the her difficulties, she finds your voice and the strength to get up. The main character is represented by Whoopi Goldberg, nominated for an Oscar for best actress for this film in the year of its release. Based on the book by alice walker🇧🇷The Color Purple” received 11 nominations.

What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)

Documentary about the life of the renowned jazz singer, activist and pianist Nina Simone🇧🇷 Produced by Netflixthe film clearly shows all of Nina’s ups and downs.

Stars Beyond Time (2017)

The film takes place in the 1960s during the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union dispute supremacy in the space race at the same time that American society deals with a deep racial war. This situation is also reflected at NASA, where a group of black employees works. Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) are great friends who will need to deal with rooted racism so that they can rise in the hierarchy of NASA🇧🇷

Precious (2010)

The film against the sad story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, aged 16. The young woman was constantly raped by her own father, becoming pregnant. She cannot read or write and suffer constant abuse at the hands of her mother. However, the character sees a chance to change her life when she has the opportunity to be transferred to a somewhat different school. under the eastfirm and patient observation of her new teacher, Mrs. Rain, the film shows his story of overcoming.

Mother of George (2013)

The young Adenike (Danai Gurira) and Ayodele (Isaach de Bankole) are a Nigerian couple from Brooklyn. In the wedding ceremony, it is predicted that Adenike will have a son named George. But, over the months, Adenike does not get pregnant and realizes that her marriage is a form of obligation for her to have a child. Facing cultural expectations and facing macho pressure, she makes a decision that could save or destroy her family.

KBELA (2015)

Kbela takes a look at the experience of racism lived daily by black women and shows the discovery of an ancestral force that arises in the face of the acceptance of curly hair. The film’s script is based on the tale of MC K_belawhich tells the story of a black girl, a resident of Baixada Fluminense, who went through a hair transition when she realized that she was a prisoner of the “white and smooth” pattern, letting her natural hair grow again.

SERIES

Dear White People (2017)

The series accompanies a group of black students at a prestigious university in the United States, whose majority of students are white. The series portrays how these characters deal with racism in campus from the university. After a Halloween party, with a blackface theme, organized by a group of white students, several racial tensions unfold in the academic environment. There are 10 episodes where a large part focuses on different characters, but revolving around the protagonist Sam White (Logan Browning), who manages a university radio program.

How To Get Away With A Murderer (2014)

Annalize Keating (Viola Davis) is a lawyer and professor of law at a university in Philadelphia, who forms a group of five students who stand out to work with her on the cases of her clients. It is the series that gave an Emmy for Best Actress in a drama to Viola Davis and stands out for its diverse cast and the plot of Annalise, a character who is far from being the heroine, but who has several reasons for being who she is.

Insecure (2016)

HBO series written, produced and starred by the comedian Issa Rae, narrates the misadventures of the character who has her real name and Molly (Yvonne Orji), two black women reaching their 30s, but still full of dilemmas and insecurities. The series deals with important issues such as the loneliness of black women, career, sex and life goals.

Antonia (2006)

Aired by TV Globo between 2006 and 2007, the series told the story of four friends from Brasilândia who struggled to bring back their group of rap music called “Antônia”, while they had to deal with the daily life of the periphery and the daily struggles and achievements.

Performed by the singers Negra Li, Leilah Moreno, Quelynah and Cindy Mendes, the series, based on the film of the same name, dealt with the strength and resistance of these women to deal with everyday racism and machismo.

The Amazing Jessica James (2017)

Jessica James, a New York drama teacher and playwright, is struggling to get over a breakup. She sees a light at the end of the tunnel when she meets the recently divorced Boone. Together, they figure out how to make things work through the tough times while realizing that they like (a lot) each other, as well as dealing with all the racial issues involved.

Scandal (2012)

A powerful team of Washington lawyers makes scandals disappear and solves government crises while dealing with their…