Note from BW of Brazil: A profile of Theodosina Rosario Ribeiro, the first black woman to be elected to the city council of Brazil’s most important city was a long time coming and BW of Brazil is proud to have shared with the world the important accomplishments of this trailblazing woman (see here). For the inspiration that she was and continues to be for many black women in Brazil, particularly in the city of São Paulo, it is very fitting that an award should be named after her. Today’s accomplishes three things at once: 1) It highlights accomplishments of women, mostly black, who are leading the charge against racism and being honored in a country where black women continue to be marginalized, 2) it highlights the importance and accomplishments of a black woman and 3) highlighting such accomplishments of mostly black women fits into the objective of this blog.
São Paulo Assembly institutes the Theodosina Ribeiro Medal honoring women leading the fight against racial discrimination and the protecting women’s rights
On Tuesday (3/18), the Draft Resolution 01/2013, authored by Deputy Leci Brandão (PCdoB), establishing the “Medalha Theodosina Rosario Ribeiro (Theodosina Rosario Ribeiro Medal)” to be conferred by the State Legislative Assembly of São Paulo to women or entities of women that excel in society because of their contribution to fighting racial discrimination and protecting the rights of women in the State of São Paulo was approved.
The medal was awarded by the President of the Legislative Assembly upon the proposal of any Deputy and delivery will be made in Session or Solemn Act, annually in the month of March.
“Dr. Theodosina is a reference for all of us, black women. She is an example of struggle and dignity. To grant this medal to women who engage, promote and fight for racial and gender equality in our state, is the public recognition of the continuity of the struggle undertaken by Dr. Theodosina,” said Leci.
Prêmio Theodosina Ribeiro (Theodosina Ribeiro Award)
“More visibility and power for women.” This is the motto of the second edition of of Prêmio Theodosina Ribeiro (Theodosina Ribeiro Award), which was to be held on March 22nd, in the Paulo Kobayashi Auditorium in the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo.
The event was organized before the adoption of the draft resolution and will be held at the initiative of Deputy Leci Brandão.
This year, the nominations for the Award were chosen by various entities and civil society organizations such as the Sindicato dos Comerciários (Union of Commerce Workers), Sindicato das Empregadas Domésticas (Union of Domestic Workers), Movimento de Moradia (Housing Movement), Movimento LGBT (LGBT Movement), Elas por Elas (Them (women) for Them), Geledes – Instituto da Mulher Negra (Geledes – Black Women’s Institute), Unaccam (União e Apoio no Combate ao Câncer de Mama (Union and Support for the Battle against Breast Cancer), Pastoral Afro da Achiropita (Afro Pastoral of Achiropita, church in São Paulo) and by Deputados (deputies or congresswomen) Adriano Diogo, Janete Pietá and Leci Brandão and by Dr. Theodosina Ribeiro herself.
In 2013 the first edition of the award took place honoring 10 women. The event was partnered by the entities Elas por Elas – Vozes e Ações das Mulheres (Voices and Actions of Women), Geledés – Instituto da Mulher Negra – and Unaccam.
Dr. Ribeiro Theodosina
Born May 29, 1930, in the town of Barretos (SP), Theodosina Rosario Ribeiro was the first black woman councilor of the Municipality of São Paulo, being elected in 1970 with the second highest vote of that election.
In 1974, she was elected the first black member of the Legislative Assembly of the State, where she also held the position of vice president. She has a degree in philosophy from the Faculdade (Faculty) of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, of the University of Mogi das Cruzes, and is a lawyer from FMU (Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas or Metropolitan Colleges Nations), Dr. Theodosina became a reference and stimulus for black women and men. After her, other black women became engaged in public life.
See the list of honorees in 2014 (see photo):
1 – Maria Júlia Coutinho – Journalist
2 – Maria Cândida de Paula Thomaz – Pastoral Afro of the Achiropita church
3 – Regina Maria Semião – Sindicato das Empregadas Domésticas (Union of Domestic Workers)
4 – Edna Almeida Lourenço (Ekdje Edna Oiyá) – Director of the Instituto Cultural Babá Toloji
5 – Zilda Thomas da Silva Souza – Movimento de Moradia
6 – Cleonice Caetano Souza – Sindicato dos Comerciários (Union of Commerce)
7 – Maria de Lourdes Pereira da Cruz – Doné Lourdes de Togum
8 – Carmen Dora – President of the Comissão da Igualdade Racial da OAB – SP (Commission for Racial Equality of Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (Lawyers Guild) – São Paulo)
9 – Laurinete Nazaré da Silva Campos (Dona Guga) – Morro da Casa Verde Samba School
10 – Agatha Lima – LGBT Movement
11 – Ana Célia Minuto de Campos – Elas por Elas
12 – Antonia Andréa de Sousa – President of AMESOL (Associação de Mulheres em Sol Maior or Association of Women in Sol Maior)
13 – Valkyrie de Souza Silva – Full Member of the National Council for the Promotion of Racial Equality and Cenarab ( National Center of Afro-Brazilian Religiosity and Resistance
14 – Mylene Pereira Ramos – Labor Judge
15 – Gloria Maria Silva – Glorinha – São Paulo Samba Personality
16 – Maria Aparecida de Laia – Activist of the Movimento Negro (Black Movement) and the Women’s Movement
17 – Maria do Carmo Checchia Fernandes – Vice President of Unaccam (União e Apoio no Combate ao Câncer de Mama or Union and Support in Battle Against Breast Cancer)
Source: Instituto Luiz Gama
Every photo l see this lady (Theodosina) she is always elegantly, empecabibly well dressed. She is an elegance worth watching.