Author of the novel ‘Um defeito de cor’, Ana Maria became the first black woman elected to the board of immortals
“Blessings, Mom. Blessings, Dad.” It was with this greeting, and after emotional applause, and in honor of her roots and ancestry, that the writer Ana Maria Gonçalves began on Friday night (7), her inauguration speech in chair number 33 of the no
Author of the historical novel Um defeito de cor, Ana Maria became the 13th woman to occupy a chair at the institution founded in 1897 and the first black woman elected to the board of immortals. In a moving and powerful speech, he celebrated his arrival at Casa de Machado de Assis and dedicated the moment to the memory of those who came before.
“Finally, I would like to thank my ancestry, an inexhaustible source of comfort, faith, patience and wisdom.” Ana Maria recalled the trajectory of the previous occupants of chair 33, highlighting the founder Domício da Gama and the linguist Evanildo Bechara, from whom she inherited the post.
“The founder of chair 33 is Domício da Gama, journalist, diplomat, short story writer and chronicler, born in Maricá in 1862. Tomorrow we will celebrate 100 years of his death.” Regarding Bechara, he highlighted his intellectual legacy and love for the Portuguese language: “Between 1954 and 1985, he wrote and published more than two dozen books, one of the best known being Modern Gramática Portuguesa. He was a central figure in the elaboration of the new orthographic agreement and represented Brazil as one of the greatest scholars of the language.”
The writer also rescued the history of female exclusion at the Academy. “The non-admission of women was initially an agreement between gentlemen, as there was nothing impeding in the statute”, he recalled, referring to the vetoed candidacy of writer Amélia Beviláqua, in 1930.
Ana Maria cited the pioneers who came after the change in status, including Rachel de Queiroz, Lygia Fagundes Telles, Nélida Piñon, Zélia Gattai, Ana Maria Machado, Rosiska Darcy de Oliveira, Fernanda Montenegro, Lilia Schwarcz and Miriam Leitão.
“After the erasure of Júlia Lopes de Almeida, the denied candidacies of Amélia Beviláqua and Diná Silveira de Queiroz, we came: Raquel, Lygia, Nélida, Zélia, Ana, Cleonice, Rosiska, Fernanda, Lília, Miriam and I. There are still too few of us for so much work of reconstructing the imagination of what we represent.”
With emotion, he reflected on the black presence at ABL and the importance of expanding voices within the institution: “For a long time, academic Domício Proença was the only black person at the Brazilian Academy of Letters. And for much longer still, Machado’s blackness was denied to him.”
The writer recognized the role of Conceição Evaristo and Ailton Krenak’s candidacies in the debate on diversity: “The discussion surrounding Conceição Evaristo’s candidacy, in 2018, contributed to my being here today. It made the Academy look in the mirror and realize how much it still failed to represent all the languages spoken by our people.”
Closing the speech, Ana Maria made a commitment to the diversity and openness of the House: “Here I am, 128 years after its foundation, as the first black writer elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters, speaking Portuguese and writing based on notions of orality and writing. I make it my mission to promote diversity in this House, open its doors to the public — the true owner of the language — and expand the commitment to the dissemination and promotion of Brazilian literature.”
By citing black thinkers such as Neusa Santos and Chimamanda Adichie, he reaffirmed the role of literature in reconstructing identities.
“Knowing that you are black means living the experience of having your identity massacred, but also the experience of committing to rescuing your history and recreating yourself in your potential and I come to work so that we are not impoverished by the telling of a unique story.”
The presentation of the new immortal was made by Lilia Schwarcz, fifth occupant of seat no. 9, elected in 2024. The historian highlighted the impact of Um defeito de cor and drew a parallel between past and present, remembering recent police operations in the communities of Alemão and Penha, in Rio de Janeiro.
“The mothers who today mourn their children in Rio’s favelas are echoes of women who, during slavery, also lost theirs. Ana Maria brings these voices into literature and, now, into the Academy.”
The ceremony also included Ana Maria Machado, who presented the academic necklace, and Gilberto Gil, responsible for the diploma. The entry committee was formed by Rosiska Darcy de Oliveira, Fernanda Montenegro and Miriam Leitão; and the outgoing one, by Domício Proença Filho, Geraldo Carneiro and Eduardo Giannetti.
Academic Miriam Leitão, from chair no. 12, highlighted the symbolism of Ana Maria Gonçalves’ inauguration: “It was in 1977 that the first woman sat in a chair here, Rachel de Queiroz. I am the 12th and Ana is the 13th. It is a very short time in the history of the Academy. But her entry has a layer of fundamental representation. She brings the strength of women and black literature into this House.” Leitão added: “The Academy is changing what needs to be changed and conserving what needs to be conserved. It maintains traditions and renews itself. This is a historic day.”
Actress Regina Casé also spoke to Agência Brasil about the inauguration: “It was especially emotional because it was Ana, because she was a black woman. Her speech reminds us how long it took us to occupy these spaces. It’s scary to think that it was only in 1977 that a woman entered here.”
Actor and writer Lázaro Ramos stated that Um defeito de cor is “the book of your life”: “It was the book I gave the most as a gift. It’s the first one that caused physical sensations in me — I cried, laughed, felt the smell, the texture. Ana’s writing is very special. Tonight is a night of celebration and literary justice.”
For him, the writer’s presence at ABL represents the country’s maturity: “It’s Brazil recognizing talents that took a long time to be recognized. Her presence here is one of justice and diversity. It’s what the Academy deserves and needs.”
“The achievement of us all”
Applauded when mentioned by Ana Maria in her speech, Conceição Evaristo defined the inauguration as a collective achievement: “Ana’s achievement is an achievement that represents all of us, black women and writers. It’s as if we were all inside the Academy today. A color defect covers gaps that history leaves. When history is silent, literature speaks.”
She also commented on the country’s political and social situation: “What happened in Rio de Janeiro, with so much violence, once again stains Brazilian history with blood. Literature doesn’t solve this right away, but it’s where we can imagine another destiny for Brazil — a destiny without pain, without exclusion.”
The also immortal Gilberto Gil summed up the emotion of the night, praising the quality of the writer’s work. “It’s joy and pride for the Academy. Ana Maria is one of the great artisans of the word, and her writing brings a deep awareness of what it means to be black in Brazil. She represents the role that black people have in the Brazilian civilizing process,” said Gil.
After the ceremony, guests attended a dinner for 300 people in the Academy’s outdoor courtyard. The menu was inspired by the book Um defeito de cor and created by chef Dilma do Nascimento, known as Dita. “It’s a great emotion to be invited to cook here at the Academy. For us, it’s a milestone — a recognition of the Africa that came to Brazil. I based the menu on the trajectory of the book, with African dishes and ending with the cocadas sold by the characters in search of freedom. It was a pleasure to bring this story through food as well.”
*With information from Agência Brasil
