Weekly Show

International Black Latino and Caribbean Women’s Day: centuries of struggle

Also featured: Brazil’s Catholic clergymen unite against Bolsonaro, and a look into rural communities amid the pandemic

Brasil de Fato | São Paulo |
Journalist José Bernardes hosts our weekly English-language show featuring the latest news and fun facts about Brazil - Screen capture/Brasil de Fato

This week in What’s Happening in Brazil, we celebrate International Black Latin-American and Caribbean Women’s Day. The occasion, that is usually observed with marches all over the world, unfortunately, had to be reduced to online events this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. These women are often the most disenfranchised in society, and their struggles are nothing new. Brasil de Fato highlights the life of an historic black female figure in Brazil, Tereza de Benguela.

In our Culture Talk segment, we take a look into the Quilombos, historic rural communities founded by runaway slaves that continue to exist till this day. They are treasure trove of Brazil’s African cultural heritage, and symbols of resistance for countless generations. However, under the Jair Bolsonaro government, like many minority communities, they face a double whammy of problems, resulting from abandonment by Federal authorities, and the rapid spread of covid-19 in the countryside.

Our Story of the Week features the efforts undertaken by the Landless Workers Movement in its encampments and settlements, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within these farming communities. Raising awareness and training field agents in healthcare, the movement is showing great success in combating the pandemic that is ravishing the country.

Finally, as is our tradition on the show, we will share some Brazilian music, and delicious local flavors with you. Enjoy the show!

All What's Happening in Brazil episodes are available at Brasil de Fato's YouTube channel, where you'll also find a special English-content playlist.

Partners who wish to include a longer version of the show in their schedule may contact our international team at [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to +55 11 993 055 156.

For more news about Brazil and our region, visit our website.

Edited by: Ítalo Piva