‘Nenhum passo atrás’ (Not a step back): Brazilian Black women’s resistance in the era of Bolsonaro’s far-right government

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since 2010, the far-right in Brazil has led the backlash to feminism, sexual and gender diversity, racial equality, and other human rights agendas. In this article, we shed light on the devastating impact of the comeback of conservatism and Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency on the lives of Black women. Next, we draw from the interviews conducted with a wide range of activists to unveil how Black women have been energised to resist the backlash. We argue that the Black women’s movement has employed grassroots organising, institutional politics, counter narratives, and the Black culture, in complementary and interconnected ways, to resist the resurgence of the far-right. Moreover, we suggest that the ability to engage with different forms of activism and strategies of resistance is a key strength of the Black women’s movement in Brazil and has placed it at the forefront of the resistance against the far-right.