ABDIAS NASCIMENTO

The United States had Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and so many other black activists ...

And Brazil had, for example, Abdias Nascimento, who died yesterday morning at age 97 in Rio de Janeiro.

Ninety-seven years of struggle for equality, non-discrimination and the attempt to build a multiracial country. Poet, author, writer, sculptor, politician and actor. Yes, actor ... and more than that, the creator of the “Brazilian Black Experimental Theater” in the 1940’s. Had a long career on stage and worked among others with the great dame of Brazilian theater Ruth de Souza.

In 1946 he worked as an actor in Othello opposite actress Cacilda Becker.

He also created the Newspaper Quilombo and was one of the founders of the “Brazilian Unified Black Movement”.

During the military dictatorship was framed within the National Security Act and even without ever having been affiliated with any party or integrating any anti-dictatorship group, he lived in exile for 10 years simply for fighting racism, because that was seen then as a subversive act.

He was a tireless pioneer in the struggle for black rights in Brazil. In 2010 was one of the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize. A man of fiber and determination, his loss certainly leaves a gap, but Abdias Nascimento will always be an example of citizenship for society as a whole.