The Brazil Congress this year passed an extension of the Quota Law. This historic moment signals the country’s elected leaders’ continued commitment to affirmative action in higher education, and progress towards racial equity for the people of Brazil.
We mark this moment as grateful celebrators for a law that reserves enrollment seats to public universities for Black and Indigenous students. We know, however, that legislation alone is not a silver bullet; and that the path to liberation and to creating a true racial democracy is a long road ahead.
Deep racial inequalities permeate Brazilian society, including its education system, which leads to dramatically different learning and life outcomes for Black and Indigenous learners; and also perpetuates generational poverty in their communities.
We believe that philanthropy has a role to play in creating a more just, equitable and healthier society. Last year, we shared Imaginable Future’s renewed commitment to racial equity efforts in Brazil, which came after the many dialogues and collaborations we had with hundreds of learners, educators, local leaders and families; and after consulting with our Black and Indigenous-led advisory board. Among our commitments is investing at least 50% of our contributions to Black and Indigenous-led organizations.
We invite you to learn about our Black-led organizations we’ve committed to in 2023. They join our growing number of JEDI-focused, Black-led organizations in our 2022 portfolio: CEERT, Fundo Baobá, Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra, Instituto Peregum, and Piraporiando.
Ação Educativa’s mission is to defend educational, cultural and youth rights. Through its trainings, participatory research and advocacy efforts, Ação Educativa aims to advance democracy, social justice and socio-environmental sustainability. It works with a diverse range of stakeholders across the ecosystem including education networks, schools, public agencies, civil society organizations, collectives and communities.
Casa Sueli Carneiro (CSC) was created to celebrate the legacy of Black philosopher, writer and anti-racism activist,Sueli Carneiro and to continue her work of strengthening Black thought and activism. For many years, the physical space of CSC, which was Sueli’s home for 40 years, served as an informal space for countless meetings for the Black movement and the Black Women’s movement.
Centro de Educação e Defesa dos Direitos do Povo Negro do Pará (CEDENPA) is dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of the Afro-Brazilian population, particularly in the state of Pará and in the Amazon region of Brazil. Created in the early 1980s, it is one of oldest organizations of the Black movement still in operation today.
Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas (CONAQ) has been advocating for the rights of Quilombola communities since 1996. Today, CONAQ works in 24 of 26 Brazilian states, and is one of the most active agents of the contemporary Black movement.
Escola Maria Felipa (Maria Felipa) is a for-profit and private early childhood education and elementary school located in Salvador, Brazil. Maria Felipa centers the teaching of Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous history and culture in its curriculum. The school won the CEERT Educar award in 2022, for its anti-racist efforts in education.
Instituto Dacor (Dacor) is a non-governmental organization that fights racism in Brazil by systematizing and disseminating knowledge and proposing public and private policies for racial equity based on evidence.
Mahin Consultoria Antirracista (Mahin) envisions a Brazil where racial democracy is a fact, not a myth. To do this, Mahin believes that getting there will require radical commitment to anti-racism from leaders across different sectors. To achieve this, it offers workshops and training programs to help leaders and organizations become aware of structural racism in Brazil, its history and daily presence in today’s society.
Observatório da Branquitude (OdB) is a civil society initiative that is dedicated to producing and sharing knowledge around racial identity and power structures, particularly around intergenerational and structural privileges maintained by white people in Brazil. OdB was founded on the belief that racism should be seen and discussed through the lens of white privilege, and that white people should be held accountable for dismantling it.
Odara Instituto da Mulher Negra (Odara) aims to overcome discrimination and prejudice for Black women and their families, and finds opportunities for their socio-political and economic inclusion.Its formation in 2010 is the result of a consortium between five Black women's feminist organizations: N'zinga - Black Women's Collective, Renascer Mulher Association, Sou Divina, Uniart and Obirinlá.
Legislation alone is not a silver bullet; and that the path to liberation and to creating a true racial democracy is a long road ahead.
Final Thoughts
These organizations are just a starting point. We know that there are many other incredible organizations out there whom we could partner with to advance racial equity in Brazil’s education system and to create the healthy, holistic systems that all learners and their families deserve. We look forward to meeting many others and learning from you.