Conceição Evaristo and Eliana Alves Cruz were applauded standing by the audience at the Cultural Arena of the 28th International Book Fair of São Paulo on this Friday (4). Over 400 people watched the chat, including children, teenagers, adults, and elderly. The audience stood up to applaud both when the writers entered and when they left.
The conversation addressed topics such as Black literature, the trajectories of both authors, and the importance of occupying spaces that have historically been inaccessible to Black women. The event took place at a symbolic moment for both.
Conceição Evaristo made history by becoming the first Black woman to occupy a chair at the Minas Gerais Academy of Letters in 2024. Last year, Ana Maria Gonçalves had become the first Black woman to join the Brazilian Academy of Letters.
Eliana Alves Cruz also wrote her name in history by being elected to the Rio de Janeiro Academy of Letters with 31 votes, occupying chair 39. She was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1966 and graduated in Social Communication.
