Media vehicles promote reflection and act as allies in the fight against racism

Priscilla Peixoto – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The fight against racism is a long-standing struggle. For this reason, communication vehicles in general can act as an allied tool to anti-racism. Opening spaces for the production, dissemination, and fomentation of materials that contribute to and promote racial equality is essential in a country where 54% of the population is black, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

To highlight the fight against racism, highlighted in the month of November, CENARIUM listed some websites that discuss issues involving the reality experienced by the black community and are responsible for producing content that highlight and awaken reflections on the theme in Brazil and the world.

Geledés Portal

Founded in April 1988, the portal is run by Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra, a political organization of black women who act against racism, sexism and also violence against women. Inspired by the gelede concept – women’s secret society in Yoruba culture – the vehicle has been in existence for over 30 years, and is one of the best known portals in Brazil and a reference when the subject involves racial issues.

“Founded on April 30, 1988, Geledés is a civil society organization that stands up for women and blacks because it understands that these two social segments suffer from disadvantages and discrimination in access to social opportunities due to racism and sexism in Brazilian society”, says an excerpt from the biography of Geledés Portal.

Mundo Negro (Black World) Portal

Known for being one of the first portals made by Black people in Brazil, Mundo Negro has been online since 2001 and brings up Afro issues and confronts racism and inequalities, but without leaving aside light and fun materials that raise the self-esteem of its target audience.

“Our editorial line is based on a positive agenda, not denying the problems related to the afrodescendant public, but mainly presenting content that entertains, informs, raises self-esteem through information and interactivity”, says an excerpt from Mundo Negro’s biography.

Alma Preta (Black Soul) Portal

With six years of existence, the Alma Preta Portal is focused on journalism specialized in racial issues. The initiative is the result of the efforts of a group of black university students who realized the need to expand the production of guidelines that address ethnic-racial issues.

With an antiracist flag and the slogan “black and free journalism”, in a short time the portal gained space and national notoriety. With journalistic content that gives a voice and a turn to minorities, it enables the visibility, mainly, of peripheral groups with a focus on a less unequal and violent society.

“Our mission is to inform society from the black and peripheral racial perspective, and respond to the desires of this public with multimedia news. We assume the political character of valuing black knowledge and culture, as well as the task of demanding rights and questioning the State in all dimensions of daily life”, says Alma Preta publication.

Blogueiras Negras (Black Women Bloggers)

Founded nine years ago, on March 8, International Women’s Day, the Black Bloggers is a vehicle with collective production of subjects aimed not only at black and afro-descendant women, but all those allied in the anti-racist and feminist struggle. With bloggers with different life stories, who resignify the afro-centered feminine universe, through the sharing of experiences, opinions, readings, and welcoming.

“We make our writing a tool to combat racism, sexism, lesbophobia, transphobia, homophobia, and fatphobia. However, we also intend to be a community; a space of welcome, empowerment, and visibility for black and afrodescendant women. We believe that the exchange of experiences and opinions on the basis of shared blackness is not only desirable, but a common goal. We want to celebrate who we are, who we were, and who we will be”, highlights the Black Women Bloggers.

CENARIUM Diversity

Although it is not totally focused on content to fight racism, CENARIUM, a generator of content about the Brazilian Amazon, besides producing guidelines on socio-political and socio-economic issues, also promotes and opens space for the dissemination and expansion of debates on behavioral issues related to diversity, gender equality, and ethnic-racial relations.

With the Diversity section, the first of its kind in Amazonas, CENARIUM works on issues considered taboo in society in order to demystify prejudices about them. In addition to promoting visibility to classes considered minorities, giving space, voice and turn to them, through the production of relevant content, always in partnership with experts and a reliable look on the issues addressed.