Opening doors to the emancipatory praxis of black women: Chiquinha Gonzaga, artivist of musical notes

Abstract

This study aims to present Francisca Edwiges Neves Gonzaga, beyond the stories of scandal and dismantling the myth of the white woman ahead of her time. A black woman, daughter of a white father and a black mother, the musician popularly known as Chiquinha Gonzaga was undeniably clear with her attitude in life. The difficult crossroads of race and gender did not prevent her from confronting the rules of society of her time. As a music worker, Chiquinha Gonzaga supported herself and allocated part of the income obtained from the sale of sheet music of her compositions, carried out door to door, to purchase freedom from her black brothers. The story of this black woman and her contributions to the reception of Afro-Brazilian rhythms beyond the popular classes, her presence in the abolitionist struggle and her action in the collective organization of music and revue theater workers, is what we propose to highlight.