Representation and racial equality under discussion at the 7th edition of the "Blackness in Focus" Forum at the Botanical Garden Museum

On Monday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m., in the Multipurpose Room of the Botanical Garden Museum, the 7th edition of the Blackness in Focus Forum will take place, with the theme “Representation and the Promotion of Racial Equality.” Free and open to the public, the event brings together historian Silvio Lima and attorney Renato Ferreira to discuss the role of representation in building a more egalitarian society, addressing structural challenges, recent advances, and ways to strengthen institutional actions aimed at racial equity.

During the lecture, the guests will share their experiences and research, developed over careers dedicated to the study of ethnic-racial relations and human rights. Drawing from different fields of knowledge, they will analyze how representation influences the construction of narratives, the formulation of initiatives, and access to rights.

Renato Ferreira is a professor in the Public Management for Economic and Social Development Program at UFRJ and a lawyer who graduated from PUC-Rio. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Law from UFF and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Human Development from UERJ, and also has a postgraduate degree in Business Law from FGV/EBAPE. Throughout his career, he has served on the Human Rights Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/RJ), participated in the UN Forum on Human Rights and Minorities in Geneva, and was a member of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State.

Silvio Lima is an associate professor at the Federal University of Fluminense (UFF), where he teaches in the graduate programs in Bioethics and Education and serves as director of the Institute of Higher Education of Northwest Fluminense (INFES/UFF). A historian with a bachelor’s degree from UERJ, he holds a master’s and a doctorate in the History of Science and Health from Fiocruz. His academic work covers topics such as medicine and slavery, racial theories, black intellectuals, education, and ethnic-racial relations.

As part of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden’s institutional agenda dedicated to discussions on memory, heritage, diversity, and equity, the Negritude em Foco Forum strengthens the dialogue between science, history, and society and reaffirms the institution’s commitment to educational and cultural initiatives aimed at recognizing African and Afro-diasporic contributions to the formation of Brazil.

The event will be streamed live on the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden’s YouTube channel.

Event Details - Negritude em Foco Forum

7th edition – Representation and the promotion of racial equality

Date: Monday, April 6

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Multipurpose Room of the Botanical Garden Museum

Address: Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008 – Jardim Botânico

Live stream on the JBRJ YouTube channel.