The battle for equality: black digital activism in Brazil

• In Event: Pensamiento Negro, Activismo Negro

Abstract

The causes of inequalities between whites and blacks are attributed to Brazilian structural racism, a legacy of more than three centuries of slavery. Racism manifests itself in many ways: social inequalities; in the institutions; with the invisibility of the black and with the creation of stereotypes. In this context, the media is central to understanding the externalization of racism. Historically, the communication made mainly by blacks and blacks as a strategy to fight against racism since the nineteenth century. Nowadays, the internet allows another reconfiguration of this activism. This article maps the main sites on race relations in Brazil, which provide information on the fight against racism, the empowerment of the black community, among other issues of interest to this racial group. Among the Brazilian sites, two of them belong to social organizations linked to the struggle of black women: Geledés - Institute of Black and Criola Women - Organization of Black Women. Two others belong to militants of the black movement: Portal Africas and Afropress. Finally, Race Magazine and Nation Z were created by companies run by blacks. Only Nation Z is located off the axis of Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo, where traditional media is concentrated. Its headquarters is in Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It can be observed that, in addition to the sites, all are in more than one social network.

Author

• Ivonete S Lopes, Universidade Federal de Viçosa