The story of Dona Neuma, known as the eternal first lady of samba and central figure at Mangueira, has just become a book organized by researchers José Leonídio Pereira and André Freire. The work brings together several stories that reveal the strong temperament and striking personality of the Mangueira native.
Among the accounts in the book, one episode stands out that happened in 1997, during Bill Clinton's visit to the Mangueira Olympic Village. The American delegation went so far as to consider extreme measures for the occasion, such as suspending the region's trains and keeping residents inside their homes.
Dona Neuma immediately reacted to these proposals with a firm stance. According to the book, she declared that Americans should choose between "respect or the absence of the American president," making it clear that she would not accept the community being restricted in its freedom during the visit.
Clinton ended up going to Mangueira, where Jamelão sang "A Voz do Morro" in his honor. According to the book organized by Pereira and Freire, the American president left the location "happier than a chick in the trash," demonstrating the positive impact the experience had on him.
