On November 7, Afro-Brasileiros in Salvador, Brazil participated in Marcha Do Empoderamento Crespo, a protest against the injustices faced by the black community. About 3,000 people showed up to the first natural hair empowerment march, according to Fusion.
The march came nearly two weeks before Dia da Consciência Negra, which was officially established in 2011 by President Dilma Rousseff. November 20 was chosen for Black Awareness Day because it’s the anniversary of the death of Zumbio dos Palmares, a leader of a group, Quilombo dos Palmares, that fought Portuguese colonizers for nearly 100 years.
Attitudes about black identity have been shifting in the last 10 years in Brazil, and things that promote positivity about the black experience, like Marcha Do Empoderamento Crespo, have been influential. Check out some amazing photos from the event below:
Check out more pics at the Marcha Do Empoderamento Crespo Facebook page.
