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Ana Maria Gonçalves Becomes First Black Woman in Brazilian Academy of Letters — woman in red shirt wearing black headphones

Ana Maria Gonçalves Becomes First Black Woman in Brazilian Academy of LettersCEFR A2

25 Jul 2025

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Adapted from Fernanda Canofre, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0

Photo by Osarugue Igbinoba, Unsplash

AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.

Ana Maria Gonçalves has made history as the first Black woman elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters, an important organization for literature. The Academy was founded in 1897 and aims to promote Brazilian language and literature.

Gonçalves is well-known for her novel "Um defeito de cor," which explores the life of an African woman enslaved in Brazil. She hopes to increase representation for Black women in literature and inspire others.

The Academy has had only a few female members and Gonçalves’s election marks a step towards diversity in the institution.

Difficult words

  • history — Past events that are important to people.
  • representation — Having someone or something stand for others.
  • literature — Written works like books and poems.
  • diversity — Variety of different people or things.
  • explores — Looks into or studies a subject deeply.

Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.

Discussion questions

  • Why is representation in literature important?
  • How can literature impact diversity in society?
  • What changes would you like to see in literature?

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