While choice between two black women for vice-mayor is historic in Salvador, others argue that it is simply symbolic in a political power structure dominated by white males

“The power here is still male, white, heterosexual, and other possibilities are not considered. By misunderstanding and by the political project of a ruling class, black women simply are not presented as a possibility,” said Vilma Reis.

History of struggles

The two candidates, Célia Sacramento and Olívia Santana shrug off the idea of ​​a secondary role assigned to them. They argue that they have a history of struggle for female autonomy, knowledge and experience needed in areas that will allow them to work on the implementation of improvements to the city next to the mayor-elect.

“I don’t see myself as supporting cast anywhere. I would never play that role. From school to UFBA (Federal University of Bahia) and Cairu (where she studied), I was always a classroom leader. I’m a born leader,” says Célia Sacramento. Olívia Santana has already said that she will not be satisfied with the performance of a vice who will only be in office to fill a space. “I’ll be a deputy mayor who wants to help my candidate to govern the city,” she adds.

With different political histories, but equally engaged in the movements for female affirmation and achievement of racial equality, Célia and Olívia celebrate the choice and feel proud to participate in an unprecedented moment for the electoral process and the struggle for equality of social rights in Salvador. They agree, however, that is still not a full conquest due to a historical and “glaring” lack of opportunity for that segment of the population.

“It’s a way to recover the self-esteem of black women, marked by the idea of ​​being bound to be a maid, servant or to perform cleaning work. We are raised with this mucama (domestic) complex,” says the PCB candidate. The partner on the ACM Neto ticket makes a similar assertion: “We have always been excluded, and this is an important moment in our history, a moment of real social inclusion.”

The American model

The choice of black politicians to head positions, using as a parameter the United States, is not always made in the first participation of majoritarian candidacies, explains political scientist Cloves Oliveira. In the U.S., between the 60s and the 90s, many opportunities were the result of alliances with white mayoral candidates, allied with black vice-leaders, which, soon after, succeeded with political support to run for the seat of mayor, and thereafter governor. Four years ago, the country took to the White House the first black president in its history.

“The big misconception is that some leaders speak in terms of ‘only’ winning the seat of deputy mayor for issues of strategic interest to a particular party. In reflection, the idea would be: ‘we’ve already earned a vice chair, and we’re working towards chair holder,’” says the professor of UFBA.

Sociologist Ordep Serra agrees with the assessment of Vilma Reis stating that the application of Célia and Olívia don’t correspond to the needs of women and social inclusion. “We still have few black women occupying important positions and whoever wins shouldn’t forget that in Salvador violence against women is still very large, and that the black population is still impoverished, marginalized and underserved.”

Vice mayoral candidates have in common the struggle for black and female assertion

Both are teachers, were born in the same decade, the 60’s, have humble origins, grew up in the slums of Salvador, studied in public schools, and have attended college at the Federal University of Bahia.

Professor of Political Science at UFBA, Jovian Neto explains that even with different responsibilities, the two candidates for vice-mayor express an important record of struggle in the Movimento Negro (black rights movement). “Olívia comes from the leadership of the Movimento Negro and is from a characteristically leftist party. Célia came from militancy as a teacher, participated in the formation of the Movimento Negro and is from a party that is not typically from the left, but emerged as an alternative. One, emphasizing direct political action, and the other, teaching. One with a clearer vision, and the other, lighter”, says Neto.

Some of the differences are due to the political experience. While the Communist has already been city councilor three times and municipal secretary of education, Célia was a candidate for federal deputy in 2010. The professor explains that although both have personal experience and experience of struggle in the movement, “Olivia is already a three-time councilwoman and Célia has a smaller political presence.”

The projects of both candidates are also similar. Both Olívia and Célia have proposals aimed at improving the access of black people to basic services such as health and education, and expanding opportunities for women in the labor market and education. They also have projects to expand service and monitoring of sickle cell anemia, a disease that affects the black population.

In her position as city councilor, Olívia Santana has the project of the municipal statute of racial equality, which remains under consideration in the City Council, and as she has affirmed, expects to see it approved this year. “If the House doesn’t vote (for it), we will keep fighting so that the next legislature is guaranteed, because the project is a list of affirmative policy proposals for blacks,” she explains.

Célia ensures that she will take to the municipal executive office many agendas that were part of her 20 years of work for the affirmation of women and blacks. One of the projects is to strengthen projects like “Hoje menina, amanhã mulher  (Today Girl, Tomorrow Woman),” the purpose of which is to guide and train young people in public schools, in order to discuss, identify and prevent various forms of social exclusion. “Women are in need of projects that include them. It’s important to have a professional qualification policy for them,” she says.

Artists share their opinions about the black female vice-mayoral candidates

“It’s is a breakthrough and overdue. A city like Salvador should have had long ago this leadership. We can’t say that it’s a super advancement on black issues, but I think it’s important two women, and especially black women, having this possibility. Despite that, in the community, the black woman already has prominence, and this will ratify what everyone already knows in the communities, that women are great leaders, from community associations and from the neighborhoods. We will perpetuate a certainty that the great strength lies in the woman. It’s a positive point that will reverberate within the communities.” 

(Cássia Vale, actress, 39)

Blackness as a campaign strategy