In Brazil, Black Consciousness Day () is observed annually on November 20 as a day to recognize
Afro-Brazilians
Afro-Brazilians (; ), also known as Black Brazilians (), are Brazilians of total or predominantly Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Most multiracial Brazilians also have a range of degree of African ancestry. Brazilians whose African features are mo ...
and their struggle to achieve racial equality.
Black Awareness Day has been celebrated since the 1960s and has amplified its events in the last few years. Originally, it was celebrated on May 13 (the date of
abolition of slavery in Brazil
Slavery in Brazil began long before the first Portuguese settlement. Later, colonists were heavily dependent on indigenous labor during the initial phases of settlement to maintain the subsistence economy, and natives were often captured by ...
). It was later moved to November 20 to honour
Zumbi
Zumbi ( – November 20, 1695), also known as Zumbi dos Palmares (), was a Brazilian quilombola leader and one of the pioneers of resistance to enslavement of Africans by the Portuguese in colonial Brazil. He was also the last of the kings of ...
's death, and is sometimes called Zumbi Day. On December 21, 2023, legislation was enacted designating November 20 as a national holiday.
Events
Members of the organization "
Black Movement" (the largest of its kind in Brazil) organize educational and fun events involving mainly children of African descent. Their focus during these events is to dissolve the perception of Africans' inferiority in society. Other "hot topics" in the Black community during the Day of Black Awareness are the assimilation of African-Brazilian laborers with Caucasian-Brazilian and other laborers, ethnic identity, and black pride.
Similar days celebrating racial groups in Brazil
The "Day of the
Caboclo
A caboclo () is a person of mixed Indigenous Brazilian and European ancestry, or, less commonly, a culturally assimilated or detribalized person of full Amerindian descent. In Brazil, a ''caboclo'' generally refers to this specific type of ' ...
" (''Dia do Caboclo'') is observed annually on June 24, in celebration of the contributions and identity of the
original caboclos and their descendants. This date is an official public holiday in the
State of Amazonas.
"
Mixed Race Day
In Brazil, "Mixed Race Day" (''Dia do Mestiço'') is observed annually on June 27, three days after the Day of the Caboclo, in celebration of all mixed-race Brazilians, including the caboclos. The date is an official public holiday in three Braz ...
" (''Dia do
Mestiço
''Mestiço'' is a Portuguese term that referred to persons of mixed European and Indigenous non-European ancestry in the former Portuguese Empire.
Mestiço community in Brazil
In Colonial Brazil, it was initially used to refer to , persons b ...
'') is observed annually on June 27, three days after the
Day of the Caboclo
A caboclo () is a person of mixed Indigenous Brazilian and European ancestry, or, less commonly, a culturally assimilated or detribalized person of full Amerindian descent. In Brazil, a ''caboclo'' generally refers to this specific type of ' ...
, in celebration of all
mixed-race Brazilian
Brazilian censuses do not use a "multiracial" category. Instead, the censuses use skin colour categories. Most Brazilians of visibly mixed racial origins self-identify as pardos. According to the 2022 census, "pardos" make up 92.1 million peo ...
s, including the caboclos. The date is an official public holiday in three
Brazilian states
The federative units of Brazil () are subnational entities with a certain degree of autonomy (self-government, self-regulation, and self-collection) and endowed with their own government and constitution, which together form the Federative Repu ...
.
"
Indigenous Peoples Day" (''Dia dos Povos Indígenas''), observed annually on April 19, recognizes and honours the
indigenous peoples of Brazil
Indigenous peoples in Brazil or Native Brazilians () are the peoples who lived in Brazil before European contact around 1500 and their descendants. Indigenous peoples once comprised an estimated 2,000 district tribes and nations inhabiting what ...
.
See also
*
Black History Month
Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Af ...
, United States, UK, Ireland, The Netherlands
*
Afro-Colombian Day, Colombia
References
{{Afro-Brazilian topics
Afro-Brazilian culture
Public holidays in Brazil
November observances
Civil awareness days