Portuguese teacher Maria Ivone das Neves, known as Mary, prepared her students for the topic “Challenges for valuing African heritage in Brazil”, which ended up being the . After the exam, the educator was received with applause and tributes from the students at the Águas Termais Full-Time State College, in Cipó, in the interior of Bahia.
A video depicting the tribute quickly went viral on social media. Watch below.
Ivone had addressed the topic with her students three days before the test, as part of the Afro-Brazilian Interdisciplinary Project: Possibilities for Anti-Racist Education, developed throughout 2024.
The program, which involved debates, films, music, books and essays, aimed to promote reflection on the appreciation of African culture, the fight against structural racism and racial literacy.
Class planning began in December 2023, and throughout the year, the teacher worked with her students on topics such as Afro-Brazilian heritage and the importance of cultural diversity.
In an emotional post on social media, she expressed her pride and gratitude to the students.
“My dear students, working on the anti-racist agenda was a great challenge. The superstructure conditions us, imprisons us, a consequence of an inhumane idea, but you welcomed this project with such affection. This discussion goes far beyond an essay topic, it needs to be taken seriously in institutionalized spaces, it’s our school!!”, wrote Mary.
On Instagram, the teacher also said goodbye, as the third year students are about to follow new paths.
“We won’t see each other again, but these memories won’t go away. I will carry them all with me throughout my life. I loved. Thank you”, concluded the teacher.
