Ana Maria Gonçalves Elected to Brazil’s Literary Academy
Brazilian author Ana Maria Gonçalves has joined the Brazilian Academy of Letters. She is the first Black woman ever elected to the 128-year-old institution.
Her election has been praised by fellow writers, activists, and even President Lula. The academy, which works to protect Brazilian literature and the Portuguese language, has long been seen as an exclusive space for white men.
Author of Powerful 950-Page Novel About Black Brazilian History
Gonçalves is best known for her 2006 novel Um defeito de cor (A Colour Defect). The 950-page book tells Brazil’s history through the eyes of a Black woman.
It has sold more than 180,000 copies and was recently chosen as the greatest Brazilian book of the 21st century by Folha de S Paulo. The novel has not yet been translated into English but is widely celebrated for its depth and power.
Gonçalves’s Win Signals a Shift in Representation
Her win breaks long-standing patterns. Out of 40 members, only two are Black men and one is Indigenous. Gonçalves will be just the sixth woman in the academy.
“I’m the first Black woman, but I can’t be the only one,” she said. She hopes to use her new position to push for more inclusion across race, gender, and region.
Backed by Lula and Fellow Writers
President Lula called Gonçalves’s book his “companion” during his 580 days in prison. He often recommends it to others.
Poet Stephanie Borges said her election will inspire more Black women to read and write. “When it’s us telling our own stories, we invite those who look like us to come closer to literature,” Borges shared.
A Victory Earned Through Skill, Not Symbolism
Many supporters stress that Gonçalves was elected not for symbolic reasons but for her talent. Cidinha da Silva, a writer herself, said she is “one of the greatest living writers in Brazil.”
Out of 31 votes, Gonçalves received 30. The only other vote went to Eliane Potiguara, who hoped to become the academy’s first Indigenous woman member.
Looking Ahead: Gonçalves’s Vision for the Future
Gonçalves hopes her place in the academy will help bring in more women and people of color. Her goal is to open the doors wider for those who have long been left out.
“The academy does need more women, more Black people, Indigenous people, and people from other parts of Brazil,” she said. “From the inside, I can help make that happen.”
