Superafro: photographic project shows the beauty and strength of black women

Forget the sense of beauty that refers to the search for perfection that does not exist. What we want to see is the one that has truth, that has history and that goes far beyond aesthetics. And it is this beauty that many photographers are dedicating themselves to showing, in works that aim at empowering and rescuing female self-esteem.

From this motivation came the project Superafro: The Power of the Black Woman, which seeks to extol the beauty and strength of female blackness. The work is signed by photographer Weudson Ribeiro, from Brasilia, who has been developing this work for two years. “I wanted to analyze the self-perception of women who make their blackness a political act. More than documenting the reality of black characters as victims of oppression, I think it’s important to portray them as heroines whose lives have been an anti-racist struggle”, explains the photographer.

Being involved in the LGBT cause, Weudson started the project photographing lesbian and trans women, but expanded the proposal and today seeks to make his work be as plural as possible. It is through the streets of Brasilia that he finds the girls photographed and the invitations are made in a very informal way. “The self-confidence they convey is what catches my eye at first sight. I approach and engage in a conversation about Afro identity and behavior in the country. I listen and share personal stories. If there is consensus, I invite them to participate in the project. Most are up for it.”

The photographer says that the motivation behind the superafro comes from the idea that valuing blackness is, above all, a political act. “Afro-Brazilian women have faced different types of prejudice since their formative years. Growing up in such an oppressive scenario and, even so, swimming against the current, assuming natural hair with the confidence of someone who knows what he wants, is one of the greatest gestures of bravery in an era dominated by aesthetic impositions.”

For him, projects like this help to make other women start to value their beauty. “The aesthetic standard propagated in fashion, advertising and television undergoes an evident whitening process. Straightening the hair is a reflection of the pigmentist ideology that has lasted in the country for centuries. Highlighting black beauty teaches young people that non-European ethnic traits are also special.”