feature: black empowerment spreads across brazil with ‘marcha do orgulho crespo’ (afro hair pride march) – “we march with pride of our afros and curls”

On July 26, the 1st Afro Hair Pride March (Marcha do Orgulho Crespo) took to the streets of São Paulo to celebrate natural hair as a symbol of resistance against deeply-institutionalised racism in Brazil. The organizers behind that march (Hot Pente and Blog das Cabeludas) declared, “We march with pride of our afros and curls, holding our combing forks in the wrist as a battle symbol against the social whitening process, sexual objectification of women and their silence. We believe in black empowerment and, above all, in its beauty and roots.” Adding, “More than being just about aesthetic, the First Afro Hair Pride March is a political act that opens paths in favor of a movement that celebrates afro hair as being part of the black identity, promotes self-esteem and helps people to embrace their ancestry and the free expression of their hair, especially for women as a means of empowerment.” Now people from all over Brazil are working with these organizers to put together their own “Marcha do Orgulho Crespo”, in places such as Porto Alegre, Brasília, Feira de Santana, Rio de Janeiro, and São Gonçalo – creating a national movement. Find details for some of the upcoming marches below, plus video and images of the event that inspired this movement.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

Photos by Jornalistas Livres

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Upcoming Marches

November, 14th – Marcha do Orgulho Crespo Feira de Santana

November, 15th – Marcha do Orgulho Crespo em Porto Alegre

November, 29 – Marcha do Orgulho Crespo em Brasília

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