The Day of Black Awareness ("Dia
da Consciência Negra" in Portuguese) is celebrated annually on
November 20 in Brazil as a day on which to reflect upon the injustices of
slavery (from the first transport of African slaves to Brazil in 1594) and to
celebrate the contributions to society and to the nation by Brazilian citizens
of African descent. It takes place during the Week of Black Awareness.
The day is marked on the anniversary
of the death of Zumbi dos Palmares (1655–1695), the last leader of the Quilombo
dos Palmares. The Day of the Black Awareness.
The date was first observed in the 1960s and has been on the school calendar since 2003.
The date was first observed in the 1960s and has been on the school calendar since 2003.