Black Women Alliance in the United States: international advocacy for justice and an end to racial violence

Exchange established partnerships and symbolized the commitment to fight for the right to a life free from oppression

Between May 29th and June 9th, Black Women Alliance Pelo Fim da Violência ( For the End of Violence) was the protagonist of two remarkable weeks of international political advocacy in the United States. The delegation, made up of representatives from 16 influential organizations in the Brazilian black movement, has as some of its main characteristics the power, plurality and experience of its leaders, who have been active in Brazil for over 30 years. The group took part in meetings with renowned organizations, strengthening dialogue and international collaboration at this time of recovery, both in Brazil and in the United States.

This immersion in the United States allowed Black Women Alliance to establish significant commitments with leaders and activists in the Americas. Connections were created and commitments made to strengthen the fight for justice and equality. The events and meetings brought to light various relevant issues, such as racial and gender violence, the importance of representation and inclusion, as well as the need to re-establish a full democratic state, with effective public policies to combat structural racism. 

An unprecedented initiative marked this exchange: at all the official activities, the Black Women Alliance delegation handed out the dossier "An Alliance for Good Living - for the universal right to breathe and an end to racial violence against the black population". The document, signed by the 16 organizations, contextualizes the scenario of racial violence in Brazil, proposes measures based on the struggles of the groups and makes recommendations for combating the problem.

New York

During its first week in the United States, Black Women Alliance carried out an intense schedule of activities in New York, strengthening ties with organizations such as BrazilFoundation, Ford Foundation, UN Women Brazil, Brazilian Consulate, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and Black Trans Media. The delegation also held an event open to the American public and media at The People's Forum, with the support of the Defend Democracy in Brazil - New York Committee.

There were intense debates and a lot of information shared between the members of Black Women Alliance and international leaders. At the Ford Foundation, important discussions emerged on sexual violence against women and the invisibilization of the trans population, all with the participation of renowned activists from Brazil and the USA. 

At the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the institution's director, Joy L. Bovins, emphasized the fact that "it houses a vast array of programs and collections, encompassing more than 11 million items that illuminate the richness of black history, arts and culture on a global scale." She also asked Brazilian leaders to "share their research in the future, strengthening the institution's commitment to valuing Brazil's intellectual and creative contributions". 

Another important milestone of the exchange was the active participation of Black Women Alliance in the session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, where the challenges faced by the black population globally were discussed. It was a space for in-depth discussions on inclusion, education, the job market and overcoming institutional racism.

The delegation from Black Women Alliance took part in panel discussions with leaders from Colombia and the Dominican Republic on women's rights, intersectionality and the role of civil society in combating racial and gender-based violence in Latin America.

Trans community

Also significant was the meeting at the Black Trans Media headquarters, where the group spoke with the founder of the Black Trans Fund, Bré Rivera, and other black trans leaders from the US. The meeting addressed issues related to the rights and protection of the black trans population in the Americas.

This immersion allowed Black Women Alliance to establish meaningful engagements with leaders and activists engaged in the struggle for the rights and well-being of the black trans community, strengthening bonds of solidarity and raising awareness of the transnational issues that directly affect this community. 

Washington, DC

In the US capital, the activists took part in meetings at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the US Congress, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Western Hemisphere Bureau and the US Special Office for the Promotion of Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. Local support came from the Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights and the Washington Brazil Office.

At the Congress, the Brazilian activists, along with Dominican and Colombian leaders, met with the director of the Race, Ethnicity and Social Inclusion Unit of the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Zakyia Carr Johnson, and other representatives of the institution. Under the theme "Racial Violence and Access to Justice in Latin America", the debate revolved around issues related to the rights of black women in their countries, such as racial violence and access to justice.

The leaders present proposed a commitment not to remain silent in the face of violence, especially the extermination of black women in Brazil, giving international visibility to these cases. They also recommended strengthening the agenda through exchanges between black cis and trans leaders, activists and parliamentarians from the Americas.

There was an intense exchange of information at all the meetings, allowing all the participants to learn about the challenges faced in their respective countries and communities. The rights violations faced by black women were highlighted, especially in the Amazon region of Brazil, where many face difficulties in accessing education. The murders of quilombolas and indigenous people were also mentioned, since there are reports of US companies and banks financing actions that violate the rights of these peoples in the region.

Black Culture

In addition to the political agendas, the activists also enjoyed a cultural immersion by exploring emblematic points in the cities they visited. In New York, they immersed themselves in the history and significance of symbolic sites. They went to Harlem, at the emblematic crossroads of the meeting point of two giants of the civil rights struggle, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr, passing through the center of the Big Apple, Grand Central, up to Fifth Avenue, and arriving in Brooklyn, a borough historically marked by the importance of black culture and the struggle for civil rights.

In Washington, they visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. At the end of the official agenda, there was an emotional meeting at Ipàdé - a space dedicated to the development of activities related to the care of black women. 

Led by the executive director, creator and founder of Black Women Radicals, Jaimee A. Swift, the leaders of Black Women Alliance, along with other Latin American black women , spoke about the importance of this exchange between people from the diaspora. They also carried out a careful and methodological analysis of the current situation to guide organizational actions in their respective countries, always considering the global influence.

"Establishing an alliance between the Americas is essential to promote fundamental freedom and seek joint solutions to the challenges faced." Jaimee A. Swift

Black Women Alliance concluded the exchange in the United States with a renewed commitment to continue fighting against racial and gender-based violence, seeking partnerships and joint solutions to combat the challenges faced by black communities. The hope is that these dialogues and collaborations will inspire deep and lasting change, promoting a fairer and more equal society for all.