By Aicha Bangoura

Gladys Mitchell-Walthour, a political scientist who studies racial politics in Brazil, affirmative action and the intersection of social welfare, race and gender presented her new documentary at the University of Maryland on Wednesday.

The event, held at the Shoemaker Building, was hosted by the department of African American studies. Chinyere Osuji, a professor at the University of Maryland, said that she could go on and on about Mitchell-Walthour as she’s accomplished so much.

The 24-minute-long film shows perspectives of Afro-Latin descendents who have risen above nationality and worked together to combat discrimination for all Black people.

Before beginning with her showcase, Mitchell-Walthour praised Osuji’s work. “I use her books and her articles almost every semester and my students love the work,” she said. 

With two giant projector boards behind her, Mitchell-Walthour displayed a PowerPoint about Black people in Brazil and spoke about the importance of the subject. She said that as of 2014, there were over 97 million Afro-Descendants in Brazil. 

She discussed how even before the known movement of Black Lives Matter, people were organizing movements for Black rights in Latin America. “It was a little strange for us not to see people talking about that,” Mitchell- Walthour said. 

“If we want to talk about Black Lives Matter, we have to talk about Brazil,” she continued. 

Mitchell-Walthour also mentioned a legislative law established in Brazil in 2003,  that requires the teaching of Black history, unlike in America. She said Brazilian students are cultured with Black history, but with students in the U.S. it’s different. 

“Often times when I talk to Black Brazilian young people, they know about leaders here, they know who Angela Davis is, they know MLK and Malcom X,” she said.

The film, which consisted of clips taken by Mitchell-Walthour, featured Black people in Brazil advocating for Black rights. The film also features Spanish native speakers.

Mariela Noles Cotito, a speaker in the film, said the current situation of Black people in Peru is somewhat similar to that of  Black people in the U.S., as far as education, workforce and mortality rates. 

Afro-Latin mothers were shown demonstrating on the streets of Brazil acting on police brutality on the youth, which is the birth of BLM.

The film also featured Monica Cunha, a Brazilian mother who became an advocate and council member after losing her son to police brutality. Cunha is the leader of ‘Movimento Moleque’ which in English translates into “kid movement.”

Mitchell-Walthour said that she entertained a documentary because she wanted to introduce a new concept, while also catering to undergraduates who might not be interested in reading a 400-page book.

Nicole Owotoki, a senior accounting major, came to the screening because of a class she takes with Osuji. She described the film as “beautiful.” Owotoki said she was not aware about the things that were going on in Brazil such as the amount of fatalities. 

“It was really hard to see that this is what happens,” she said.

Owotoki could  see the intensity in the film, especially with Monica Cunha. “That was very tragic and the fact that it’s a recurring thing to the point that it created a whole gathering of people to come into one area,” she said.

Owotoki said that the event inspired her to want  to donate to causes for Black and human rights such as the Peregum Institute, which is a non-profit organization that aids  Black and marginalized populations. “My ears did move up because that’s something I would want to do,” she said.

Ndiaye, a benefits service counselor at UMD, who requested to be referred to by her last name, attended the meeting and said she was interested in Black people all over the word. Ndiaye thinks it’s important for everyone to be interested in the lives of all communities to understand different perspectives. 

Ndiaye has Caribbean roots and said there is no shame in nationality ignorance. 

“It’s powerful when people do seek out that information, especially when they’re not from the communities that are not being highlighted,” she said.

Jennifer Bernedo, a senior business major, is Peruvian and said it was great to hear about Afro-Peruvian movements in the film. “Afro-Peruvians are just there, but they are not really talked about,” Bernedo said. 

Bernedo said it’s  important to form a middle ground. “We have our similarities, there’s some difference too, but as minorities I think it’s better to come together,” she said. 

Mitchell-Walthour explained that she wants people to know about the work that Black people are invested in throughout Latin America, while also emphasizing the support from those who are international. 

“I don’t need to lead something that’s going on in another country, but can I support people? Yes,” she said.

Featured Image: Gladys Mitchell-Walthour hosts a Q&A at the Shoemaker Building. Photo by Aicha Bangoura.