Women’s Day: Meet Laélia Alcântara, the 1st Black Senator of Brazil elected by Acre

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International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is a date that resignifies women’s historical struggle for rights and equality. In this context, we honored the trajectory of Laélia Alcântara, the first black senator of Brazil, whose political and social contributions profoundly marked the history of Brazil and Acre.

Origins and training

Laélia Contreiras Agra de Alcântara was born on July 7, 1923, in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Daughter of a middle -class family, she stood out early on her commitment to her study. He graduated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) in 1949, a period when women, especially black women, still faced major challenges in access to education and the labor market.

After graduation, Laelia moved to Acre, a federal territory at the time, which had a critical scarcity of doctors-there were only six professionals working in the region. She was the only woman among doctors who were in the state, which further highlighted her courage and determination in a predominantly male professional field. There, Laelia specializes in obstetrics and pediatrics and began teaching childcare at the Normal School of Rio Branco, contributing directly to the training of local professionals and the advance of public health in the region.

Political career

Laélia Alcântara began her political trajectory in the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), being elected deputy deputy in 1962. In 1965, with the establishment of bipartisanship in Brazil, she joined the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), which represented opposition to the military regime. Its rise in the MDB was marked by the focus on social issues, mainly related to public health and education.

In 1974, he was elected alternate by Senator Adalberto Sena, and after the departure and subsequent death of the holder in 1981, Laelia took her place, becoming the first black woman to occupy a chair in the Federal Senate. Its election not only represented a personal achievement, but also a milestone in Brazilian politics, which until that moment was dominated by a minority of white men.

Senate performance

During his term from 1981 to 1983, Laélia Alcântara stood out for her performance in social and inclusion guidelines. He was one of the main defenders of public policies aimed at the health of women and children, as well as fighting for the expansion of female participation in politics and actions aimed at reducing racial and social inequality in the country.

As a doctor, her vision was wide, going beyond clinical care, and also worked with the formation of public policies that improved the health conditions of the neediest population. She used her voice in the Senate to argue in favor of better living conditions for marginalized groups, which were often not heard by her peers.

Contributions and Legacy

Laélia Alcântara was one of the few women to reach a prominent position in national policy during the military regime. His presence in the Senate not only broke gender and race barriers, but also represented the growing importance of black women in Brazilian politics. She became a reference for future generations of women and black women who aspired to occupy positions of power and decision.

In addition to his mandate in the Senate, Laelia remained active in social issues after the end of her political action. He was a tireless defender of public health and social inclusion, working on various fronts to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.

Laélia Alcântara died on November 8, 2006, but her legacy remains strong in the memory of those who believe in a fairer and more egalitarian Brazil.