Benedita da Silva
Encyclopedia
Benedita Souza da Silva Sampaio, (born in Rio de Janeiro
, April 26, 1943) is a Brazilian politician
. During her life she faced a lot of prejudice
for her humble origin, but she overcame the adversities and was Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro
and, later, Minister of State in the Government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
.
. Throughout her life, Benedita faced prejudice
and racism for her humble and African origins, but she has overcome those barriers by becoming the first female and black governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
nominated her Secretary of State as well.
of Chapéu Mangueira in Copacabana. Growing up in an urban setting allowed her to read and write unlike some of her siblings who grew up in the country. Forced by circumstances, she found herself a victim of child labor, which was common in her region. Silva underwent an difficult childhood, being exposed to rape at the age of seven, several miscarriages, and having a baby which died soon after birth. At 16 she started working with the community school of the Chapéu Mangueira favela. She also established a women's association in the favela where she lived and a women's branch of the Rio de Janeiro Federation of Slums. She also found time to work as a nursing
aide and study Social Studies. Moreover, at the age of forty, Da Silva received her high school diploma, and began to attend college at the same time as her 20 year-old daughter. During this period she also married a man named Manshino.
After Manshino's death, Da Silva became involved in community service where she met her second husband Bola. Bola inspired her politically and coordinated her campaign, which resulted in Da Silva's historic election as the first Workers' Party governor in Rio. Five years later, Da Silva became a widow for the second time. She would later meet her new husband, the actor Pitanga, as she campaigned for as a senator candidate. These relationships and the dynamics of Brazilian life combined with her activism propelled Da Silva to political prominence and controversy.
She did so at a time when both women and blacks weren't that visible in Brazil's political process. Neither the loss of two husbands, nor the hostility of the Brazilian press deterred her emotionally or politically. Silva endured their diatribes and worked to change conditions for all Brazilians. Today, she is an advocate of women's rights both in Brazil and around the world. Egalitarianism is her goal, not just for her constituents but to persons everywhere who are adversely affected by prejudice and poverty. According to da Silva, "Racial democracy only exists in school books and official speeches; the elite in Brazil have promoted the myth of racial harmony to make people accept certain forms of discrimination and to deny the need for affirmative action." As a product of the African Diaspora, Benedita da Silva is committed to helping guarantee the benefits of full citizenship for minorities around the world.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, April 26, 1943) is a Brazilian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. During her life she faced a lot of prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
for her humble origin, but she overcame the adversities and was Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
and, later, Minister of State in the Government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
.
Origin
Benedita Souza da Silva Sampaio, was born on March 11, 1943 in Praia do Pinto, in Rio de Janeiro to Ovidia da Silva out of wedlock, despite the fact that Ovidia was married to someone other than Benedita's father. Her mother later revealed to Benedita who her real father was. She is one of Ovidia's 13 children. Benedita da Silva is also known as Bene' and is an African-Brazilian politicianPolitician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Throughout her life, Benedita faced prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and racism for her humble and African origins, but she has overcome those barriers by becoming the first female and black governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
nominated her Secretary of State as well.
Background
According to da Silva her mother’s matriarchal tendencies have profoundly influenced her development. From her, she learned the virtues of independence and self-determination. She grew up in the slum or FavelaFavela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
of Chapéu Mangueira in Copacabana. Growing up in an urban setting allowed her to read and write unlike some of her siblings who grew up in the country. Forced by circumstances, she found herself a victim of child labor, which was common in her region. Silva underwent an difficult childhood, being exposed to rape at the age of seven, several miscarriages, and having a baby which died soon after birth. At 16 she started working with the community school of the Chapéu Mangueira favela. She also established a women's association in the favela where she lived and a women's branch of the Rio de Janeiro Federation of Slums. She also found time to work as a nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
aide and study Social Studies. Moreover, at the age of forty, Da Silva received her high school diploma, and began to attend college at the same time as her 20 year-old daughter. During this period she also married a man named Manshino.
After Manshino's death, Da Silva became involved in community service where she met her second husband Bola. Bola inspired her politically and coordinated her campaign, which resulted in Da Silva's historic election as the first Workers' Party governor in Rio. Five years later, Da Silva became a widow for the second time. She would later meet her new husband, the actor Pitanga, as she campaigned for as a senator candidate. These relationships and the dynamics of Brazilian life combined with her activism propelled Da Silva to political prominence and controversy.
She did so at a time when both women and blacks weren't that visible in Brazil's political process. Neither the loss of two husbands, nor the hostility of the Brazilian press deterred her emotionally or politically. Silva endured their diatribes and worked to change conditions for all Brazilians. Today, she is an advocate of women's rights both in Brazil and around the world. Egalitarianism is her goal, not just for her constituents but to persons everywhere who are adversely affected by prejudice and poverty. According to da Silva, "Racial democracy only exists in school books and official speeches; the elite in Brazil have promoted the myth of racial harmony to make people accept certain forms of discrimination and to deny the need for affirmative action." As a product of the African Diaspora, Benedita da Silva is committed to helping guarantee the benefits of full citizenship for minorities around the world.
Political career
- 1982 - Elected city councilCity councilA city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
or of Rio de Janeiro for the Worker's Party. - 1986 - Elected to the National CongressNational Congress of BrazilThe National Congress of Brazil is the legislative body of Brazil's federal government.Unlike regional legislative bodies – Legislative Assemblies and City Councils -, the Congress is bicameral, composed of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies .The Senate represents the 26 states and...
; fought to make amendments to the Brazilian Constitution on racial crimes, 120 days maternity leave, prohibition of difference of wages and right of the prison inmates to breast-feed their children. - 1994 - Elected to the Senate, becoming the first female senator in Brazil.
- 1998 - Became Vice-Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro on the Anthony GarotinhoAnthony GarotinhoAnthony William "Garotinho" Matheus de Oliveira is a Brazilian politician. He started as a radio presenter and changed his name legally to Garotinho - which means "Little Boy" - after it brought him success in his early career as a football commentator...
ticket. - 2002 - With Governor Anthony Garotinho resigning to run for President, Da Silva assumes the Governorship of the State of Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first woman and the first black to occupy the office.
- 2003 - Leaving the State government, Silva takes the post of Social Action Secretary, where she remains until January 2004.
- 2006 - Assumed the general coordination of the campaign of re-election of current president Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
in the state of Rio De Janeiro. Some periodicals speculated that, she would run for mayor of the City of Rio De Janeiro in 2008. It didn't happen.
See also
- Afro-BrazilianAfro-BrazilianIn Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
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