2026/06/29 by Josefa Maria Stiegler · 2 voices
Social Sciences · #Intimate Partner and Family Violence #Politics and Society in Latin America #Race, Identity, and Education in Brazil
paper · doi:10.1332/25151088y2026d000000148
openalex publication_date 2026/06/29 · openalex created_date 2026/06/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/30
Black mothers from favelas who have organised after the murders of their children are among the most vocal activists against police violence in Brazil. Rooted in shared experiences of loss and injustice, the fight for justice in the face of the structural racism perpetrated by state institutions is central to Black maternal activism. Focusing on Black mothers’ movements from Rio de Janeiro, this article explores their strategic use of state channels and their bottom-up, solidarity-based practices of doing justice to bring discussions about racism, state violence and impunity to the fore. Combining on-site (in 2019) and online fieldwork (during 2020–21), the hybrid study reported here shows how doing justice extends beyond legal recognition and encompasses everyday acts of reparation through which Black mother-activists rehumanise their children. Furthermore, they utilise legal institutions as key sites to advance a more comprehensive understanding of justice that places the dignity of Black life at its core.