ABSTRACT
As Brazil headed into its third Lula presidency, his appointment of ten Afro-Brazilians as Ministers demonstrated the power of black mobilisation and his continuing commitment to the Afro-Brazilian population. Afro-Brazilians and other marginalised groups such as Indigenous people, women, and LGBTQ+ people, mobilised against Jair Bolsonaro's presidency. Bolsonaro was a conservative president (2018–2022), known for his racist, sexist, and homophobic discourse. He helped to strengthen a social and political climate that was intolerant of non-Christian religions, especially African-derived religions. He also encouraged citizens to purchase guns, making it easier for them to do so. His extreme discourse and actions were met with resistance. Afro-Brazilian activists committed to black rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and Quilombola rights mobilised against his regressive policies and hateful discourse – in streets, universities, and virtual spaces on the internet. This chapter focuses on contemporary issues of black identity, especially an embrace of Blackness with the increase of black students in universities, mobilisation, and increased black political representation, including by black Brazilian women.
