BLACK WOMEN MOVING TO THE CENTER STAGE:

REPRESENTATIONS OF MOTHERHOOD IN BRAZILIAN LITERATURE

Abstract

In brazilian literary historiography, even in its broader scope, Black women have often been depicted in reductive ways, characterized as passive, lascivious, or animalistic, rather than affirmatively represented. This article examines the evolving portrayal of Black women in national literature, moving from white-patriarchal narratives to Afro-Brazilian literature. Using a bibliographic methodology with a qualitative approach, the study investigates representations of Black motherhood through sociological, psychoanalytic, and literary-critical perspectives. Specifically, it analyzes the vibrant writing of Conceição Evaristo in her short story “Aramides Florença” from the collection Insubmissas lágrimas de mulheres (2020). The findings reveal a long journey toward the inclusion—and permanence—of Black female characters in Brazilian literary historiography, particularly in their roles as mothers raising their children, emphasizing depictions that break away from stereotypes and social impositions.