Geledés: From Collective Work to an Organization Led by Black Women
Geledés – Institute of Black Woman was founded on April 30, 1980, a period marked by the growing prominence of Black women leaders active in Brazil’s Black and feminist movements.
Registro com as fundadoras e colaboradores de Geledés em São Paulo (SP) (1980) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Since its creation, the institution has developed work grounded in the
perspectives of Human Rights, focusing essentially on gender and race
within political, social, economic, and cultural spheres.
Sônia Nascimento
Sônia Nascimento is one of the founders of the institution. A lawyer, she
served as president of Geledés for two terms (1994–2000) and
coordinated major projects such as SOS Racism and Popular Legal
Promoters (PLPs).
Nilza Iraci
Nilza Iraci served as president from 2009 to 2014. She currently acts as
Executive Coordinator for the Training, Care, and Empowerment Division,
responsible for leadership development and direct connection with
women’s movements across Brazil.
Solimar Carneiro
Solimar Carneiro founded and presided over the institution for two terms
(2003–2009). She coordinated the Brio Project, the Rappers Project, and
was actively involved in Popular Legal Promoters (PLPs).
Sueli Carneiro
Sueli Carneiro is a founder of Geledés. Within the organization, she serves
as Executive Coordinator for the Memory, Justice, and Reparation
Division, responsible for national and international advocacy in the fight
against sexism and racism.
Ata de Fundação de Geledés - Instituto da Mulher Negra (1988-04-30) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Founding Charter of Geledés
On April 30, 1988, Geledés was officially established, with the charter
listing the ten Black women responsible for founding the institution.
Edna Maria Santos Roland, Sueli Carneiro, Maria Lúcia da Silva, Solimar
Carneiro, Deise Benedito, Elza Maria da Silva, Sônia Pereira do
Nascimento, Ana Maria Silva, Eufrosina (Lola) Tereza de Oliveira, and Lucia
Bernardes de Souza.
Maria Lúcia da Silva, first president of Geledés, speaks about the
landmark year of 1988.
Tribunal Winnie Mandela (1988-05/1988-11) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de GeledésGeledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Winnie Mandela Tribunal
The Winnie Mandela Tribunal happened from May to November of 1988, organized by the CNDM black woman program (coordinated by Sueli Carneiro), CECF Black Women Commission from SP (directed by Edna Roland) and OAB (The Brazilian Bar Association).
Solimar Carneiro discusses the space where Geledés was
established in the Vila Sônia neighborhood of São Paulo
Mulheres da Trajetória de Geledés (1990/1991) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Women in Geledés’ Trajectory
Geledés had its headquarters at Carlos Gomes Square, in the Liberdade neighborhood of São Paulo, during the 1990s. In the photo, women who were part of the organization’s history at that time.
How was Geledés founded?
Human Rights, Communication, and Health are the three core programs
that have guided Geledés’ work since its inception. Throughout the 1990s,
the organization’s activities were largely driven by monitoring public
policy agendas related to gender and race.
At that time, significant initiatives such as SOS Racism, adapted by Geledés
from the French experience, and the pioneering Rappers Project were
developed in tandem with the social demands of Black youth, women, and
men as active historical agents in the country.
Statement by Sueli Carneiro on the organization’s structure.
Organograma Institucional (1995/1996) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Institutional Organizational Chart
Organizational chart representing the planning of Geledés’ Programs and
Projects, 1995/1996.
SOS Racism
On April 23, 1991, at São Paulo’s City Council, Geledés launched the Legal
Advisory Service for Cases of Racial Discrimination – SOS Racism,
integrated into its Human Rights Program.
The initiative received complaints of racial discrimination and provided
guidance to victims.
SOS Racismo (1991) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Geledés in a meeting at the OAB, São Paulo: SOS Racism, on April 23, 1991.
Statement by Dr. Arruda about the SOS Racism program.
Institutional Communication
Projects such as GeleFax played a vital role in spreading
information and fostering dialogue between Geledés and other Black
women’s organizations across Brazil.
Nilza Iraci recalls: “We produced the
newsletters on specific themes, sent them by fax to other organizations,
which copied and distributed them—that’s how we shared information.”
Through its Communication Program, Geledés implemented initiatives
such as GeleFax and, subsequently, the Geledés Notebooks, aimed at
conveying critical issues affecting Black communities in an accessible
manner. A total of five notebooks were published.
Notebook 1 – Black Woman and Health
The first volume, with a cover design by Luiz Pê, reflected on Black
women’s self-organization around health and marked the first attempt to
systematize a health program for Black women.
Notebook 2 – Sterilization: Impunity or Regulation
Notebook 2 addressed the topic of sterilization and fostered a dialogue
regarding the Draft Law on Rights Related to Reproductive Health. The
cover design, created by Luiz Pê, encapsulates the core ideas of the
national discussions on reproductive health for Black women.
Notebook 3 – No to the Death Penalty
This publication denounced a proposed plebiscite on capital punishment
introduced by Congressman Amaral Netto (PDS/RJ) on October 6, 1988,
showing how the proposal violated constitutional and human rights
principles.
Poster – No to the Death Penalty
The launch of the SOS Racism initiative included a debate led
by Dr. Bryan A. Stevenson from the Alabama Capital Representation
Resource Center (USA), as well as the collection of signatures opposing the
proposed death penalty legislation in Brazil.
Notebook 4 – Black Woman
Notebook 4 compiles articles by Sueli Carneiro, three of
which were written between 1984 and 1988: The Feminine Power in the
Cult of the Orixas, co-authored with Cristiane A. Cury; Feminine
Identity; and National Organization of Black Women: Challenges and
Perspectives. Here.
In the previously unpublished article Civil Society’s Response to Racial and
Gender Violence, Sueli Carneiro analyzes the organizational strategies
developed by the Black Movement and the Feminist Movement,
highlighting the need for creative organizational approaches in both.
Notebook 5 - Black Woman in the Decade: Search for Autonomy
This final volume reflected on the “Decade for Women” and disseminated
discussions from the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing,
China, in September 1995.
Statement by Suelen Girotte on the Geledés Notebooks.
Rappers Project
In 1992, the Rappers Project was launched under the umbrella of the SOS
Racism Program. It emerged in response to the need to support and
protect young Black people who reported violence by security guards at
São Bento subway station in São Paulo.
Projeto Rappers (1992) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
National Hip Hop Exhibition at São Bento Metro Station, downtown São
Paulo, in 1993.
Tap to explore
Projeto Rappers - Desenvolvimento (1996) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Through the cultural activities developed within the project, together withthe coordination of Geledés, young Black women and men receivedsupport and collectively created opportunities for diverse forms ofexpression through rap and hip hop.
Clodoaldo Arruda speaks about Rappers Project.
The Pioneering Pode Crê! Magazine
With its first issue released in February–March 1993, Pode Crê! Magazine
was an initiative of the Rappers Project and became the first Brazilian
publication dedicated to the hip-hop movement.
Collective Strategies and Knowledge Production
Geledés’ participation in events addressing gender and race fostered key
discussions relevant to the Black movement.
Fourth World Conference on Women
Geledés’ participation in events addressing gender and race fostered key
discussions relevant to the Black movement.
Cartaz de Geledés sobre a IV Conferência Mundial de Mulheres em Beijing (1995) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
The Fourth World Conference on Women, held in 1995 in
Beijing (China), marked a turning point in the global agenda for gender
equality. The event recognized sexual and reproductive rights as human
rights and emphasized women’s participation across all spheres of society.
Regarding the event, Sueli remarks: “Geledés learned from feminism itself
the importance of advocacy at the international level, and particularly
within the United Nations, where governments established strategies
aimed at supporting the most vulnerable groups.”
Encontro Feminista (1985/1995) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Feminist Meeting
To assess the outcomes of the Beijing Conference and the activities of
women’s organizations between 1985 and 1995, the Feminist Meeting
was held. The event featured a performance by Feminirappers, the
women’s counterpart of the Rappers Project.
Durban Conference
In 2001, members of Geledés participated in the United Nations World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance in Durban, South Africa.
Interview with Sueli Carneiro for TV Unicsul on Brazil’s role at the
Durban Conference (2001).
Interview with Cidinha on the program Afirmação by the Dombali
Cultural Society (2000).
A New Communication Platform: Geledés Portal
On November 20, 1997—Brazil’s National Black Consciousness
Day—Geledés entered the digital era by launching the Geledés Portal, the
first institutional website created by a civil society organization in Brazil.
The achievement was featured in Folha de São Paulo newspaper.
KK discusses the creation of the Geledés Portal.
Acquisition of the Headquarters
In 2003, with support from the Ford Foundation, Geledés acquired the
property that became its new headquarters in Vila Buarque, central São
Paulo—where the organization remains to this day.
Compra da Sede (2003) by Coleção do Acervo do Centro de Documentação e Memória Institucional de Geledés.Geledés Instituto da Mulher Negra | Rede de Historiadores Negros | Acervo Cultne
Solimar Carneiro
Solimar Carneiro signs as President of Geledés
Tap to explore
Collective Curatorship: Geovanna Milena Dantas Perez, Lidiany Evelyn
Matias Mello de Souza, Natália Sena Carneiro, Tereza Cristina Lopes da
Rocha, Suelen Girotte do Prado, Wini Sabino Calaça da Luz.
Research: Suelen Girotte do Prado
Production: Geovanna Milena Dantas Perez, Lidiany Evelyn Matias Mello
de Souza, Lucineia Pereira Ribeiro, Natália Sena Carneiro, Tereza Cristina
Lopes da Rocha, Suelen Girotte do Prado, Wini Sabino Calaça da Luz.
Technical Review: Suelen Girotte do Prado
Text Review: Beatriz de Oliveira
Administration: Natália Sena Carneiro
Translation: Kátia Mello
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