First Black woman elected to Brazil's Academy of LettersCEFR A2
25 Jul 2025
Adapted from Fernanda Canofre, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Osarugue Igbinoba, Unsplash
On July 10 Ana Maria Gonçalves, a 55-year-old writer from Minas Gerais, was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters. She is the first Black woman in the Academy's 128-year history.
The Academy was founded in 1897 and has 40 active members and 20 foreign associates. Brazil is a mixed-race country and many people say the Academy did not reflect that diversity.
Gonçalves is best known for the novel Um defeito de cor, first published in 2006. The book sold many copies and inspired a samba parade theme in 2024.
Difficult words
- elect — to choose someone for a public positionelected
- academy — a group of important writers or experts
- associate — a person connected to an organizationassociates
- diversity — a range of different kinds of people
- mixed-race — people with parents from different racial groups
- novel — a long fictional story published as a book
- inspire — to give someone an idea or feelinginspired
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think the Academy should include more members from different backgrounds? Why?
- Have you read a novel that changed how people think? Which one?
- Why can a book inspire a public event like a parade?
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