Ana Maria Gonçalves's 'Um Defeito de Cor' Explores Slavery's Legacy in Brazilian Literature
Published in 2006, Ana Maria Gonçalves's novel 'Um Defeito de Cor' has become a significant work in Brazilian literature, frequently referenced in discussions surrounding Black identity and anti-racism. Spanning nearly a thousand pages, the narrative follows Kehinde, an African woman from Dahomey, whose lineage is deeply intertwined with the legacy of slavery in Brazil. The story reflects Brazil's colonial past and ongoing social disparities. In 2007, the book was awarded the Casa de las Américas Prize and celebrated its 20th edition by June 2020. Kehinde's character draws inspiration from Luísa Mahin, a free African woman who led a rebellion against slavery in Bahia, with Gonçalves motivated by Mahin's manuscript discovered on Itaparica Island. The novel highlights the unique struggles of Black women, making it vital for Afro-feminist discourse.
Key facts
- Ana Maria Gonçalves is the author of 'Um Defeito de Cor', published in 2006 by Editora Record.
- The novel won the Prêmio Casa de las Américas in 2007.
- By June 2020, the book was in its 20th edition and remained on national bestseller lists.
- The protagonist Kehinde is a fictional African woman from the Kingdom of Dahomey, now Benin.
- The character is inspired by the historical figure Luísa Mahin, mother of abolitionist Luis Gama.
- The novel is nearly a thousand pages long and is considered a classic of Brazilian Black literature.
- The work is analyzed in Fabiana Carneiro's 2019 book 'Ominíbú: maternidade negra em Um defeito de cor'.
- Gonçalves found inspiration in a manuscript by Luísa Mahin discovered on Itaparica Island, Bahia.
Entities
Artists
- Ana Maria Gonçalves
- Kehinde
- Luísa Mahin
- Luis Gama
- Fabiana Carneiro
Institutions
- Editora Record
- Casa de las Américas
- Nielsen
- PublishNews
- Editora Edufba
Locations
- Ubiá
- Brazil
- Kingdom of Dahomey
- Benin
- Bahia
- Ilha de Itaparica
- Costa da Mina