More Than Just a Holiday: Black Awareness Day
- Leticia Fialho
- Dec 2, 2025
- 2 min read
Recently, in December 2023, a law was ratified, making Black Awareness Day an official Brazilian national holiday. November 20th marks one of the most significant dates in the long lasting and resilient fight against oppression experienced by the black community in Brazil. It is celebrated in honor of Zumbi dos Palmares, the leader of Quilombo dos Palmares, a settlement of free and escaped enslaved people in the northwestern region of the country, during the late 1600’s. Although this legal recognition is considered recent, Black Awareness Day has been a central pillar for the Brazilian black movement for many decades.
Zumbi dos Palmares is remembered as a powerful symbol of black resistance. He was born in 1655, as a free man, got captured, was enslaved, but later escaped and became a leader in the Palmares. Under his impressive leadership, his quilombo sheltered over twenty thousand people, black and indigenous combined. Quilombo dos Palmares’ goal was to offer protection for everyone seeking freedom, desiring to live there. It was located in a strategic region, far from where the colonizers were, full of vegetation, and of difficult access. Over time, their population developed their own economy, political and social organization, as if they were an independent nation.
However, as a result of betrayal and brutality from the colonial forces, Zumbi was executed on November 20th, 1695. It was a huge loss for the quilombo, but unmeasurably strengthened the power of his legacy. His death eventually led to the fall of the Quilombo dos Palmares, aside from transforming him into a permanent symbol of courage, determination and fight for freedom. This is exactly why November 20th holds such a deep meaning. Black Awareness Day is not just about honoring Zumbi’s historical figure, but about recognizing the endless battle for racial justice that continues shaping Brazil until today. The date reminds the country about the contributions, resilience, and strong connection to Afro-brazilians, while also challenging society to question and confront the inequalities that persist.
Even with the legacy of Zumbi and the cultural richness of Afro-Brazilian history, inequality within races remains a reality in Brazil. Black Awareness Day, therefore, becomes an essential moment to highlight challenges such as unequal access to education, higher rates of violence, limited representation in leadership, in addition to restricted economic opportunities. On November 20th, cultural events, campaigns, marches, or even school projects urges people to learn, reflect and listen to the voices that are most times overlooked, encouraging society to engage in meaningful discussions about justice and equality.
Essentially, celebrating Black Awareness Day is not just about remembering the past, but about shaping a more conscious and inclusive future. Honoring Zumbii dos Palmares and acknowledging Afro-Brazilian contributions helps the nation recognize its cultural foundations and the strength of its antecedents. The holiday invites citizens to confront the ways racism is still present, committing to actions that promote respect, equality and representation on top of everything, underscoring its relevance.
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