Benedita da Silva

Benedita Souza da Silva Sampaio (; born 26 April 1942) is a Brazilian politician. From a working-class background, she faced class and racial prejudice, overcoming it to become the first female and Afro-Brazilian governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro and, later, Minister of the said Secretary of State as well in the Government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Early life Da Silva was born on 26 April 1942 in Praia do Pinto, Rio de Janeiro, to Ovídia da Silva and is one her mother's 13 children. Benedita da Silva is also known as Bene.

According to Da Silva, her mother's matriarchal tendencies have profoundly influenced her development. She has two children, Pedro (born 1964) and Nilcéa (born 1966).

After Manshino's death, Da Silva became involved in community service, where she met her second husband Bola. Bola inspired her politically and coordinated her campaign, which resulted in Da Silva's historic election as the first Workers' Party governor in Rio. Five years later, Da Silva became a widow for the second time. She would later meet her new husband, the actor Pitanga, as she campaigned for as a senator candidate. These relationships and the dynamics of Brazilian life combined with her activism propelled Da Silva to political prominence and controversy.

She did so at a time when both women and black people were not visible in Brazil's political process. Neither the loss of two husbands nor the hostility of the Brazilian press deterred her politically.

Current Today, she is an advocate of women's rights both in Brazil and Latin America. Egalitarianism is her goal, not just for her constituents but to persons everywhere who are adversely affected by prejudice and poverty. According to Da Silva, "Racial democracy only exists in school books and official speeches; the elite in Brazil have promoted the myth of racial harmony to make people accept certain forms of discrimination and to deny the need for affirmative action." As a member of the African diaspora which came to the Americas as a result of the Maafa, and which stills suffer discrimination around the world based in the social relations constructed thereafter, Mrs Da Silva through her career is a figure who reinforces the benefits of full citizenship for racial minorities in Latin America.

Political career

1982 - Elected city councilor of Rio de Janeiro for the Worker's Party. 1986 - Elected to the National Congress; fought to make amendments to the Brazilian Constitution on racial crimes, 120 days maternity leave, prohibition of difference of wages, and right of the prison inmates to breast-feed their children. 1994 - Elected to the Senate, becoming the first female senator in Brazil. 1998 - Became Vice-Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro on the Anthony Garotinho ticket. 2002 - With Governor Anthony Garotinho resigning to run for president, Da Silva assumes the Governorship of the State of Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first woman and the first black person to occupy the office. 2003 - Leaving the State government, Silva takes the post of Social Action Secretary, where she remains until January 2004. 2006 - Assumed the general coordination of the campaign of re-election of current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Some periodicals speculated that, she would run for mayor of the City of Rio de Janeiro in 2008. It didn't happen.

Benedita da Silva's journey to political leadership alone is enough to make a statement regarding her character and determination. Da Silva's biography, "Benedita da Silva: An Afro-Brazilian woman's story of politics and love", tells, through a collection of interviews, of her hardships and successes while conveying her message to members of her audience. Through the novel, da Silva is able to impact its readers while also bringing to light the many issues that a prominent in Brazil, particularly in the Brazilian Favelas. She exposes prominent and controversial issues such as abortion, poverty, rape and sexual abuse, and inequality that plagued her personally.

Da Silva's describes herself “three times a minority” (black, poor, and woman). Reportedly providing leverage in appealing to her electorate.

She is a devout Pentecostal and draws much of her ideology from the progressive wing of the Pentecostal movement in Brazil. She describes herself as a "PTcostal."

Medalha de Mérito Pedro Ernesto - In 1990, she received the Medalha de Mérito Pedro Ernesto from the city of Rio de Janeiro for her contributions to the city's social development

Order of Cultural Merit - In 1996, the Brazilian government awarded Benedita da Silva the Order of Cultural Merit for her contributions to the promotion of culture and diversity.

Medal of the Order of Merit of Bahia - In 2009, Benedita da Silva was awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit of Bahia for her outstanding contributions to the development of the state of Bahia.

Frei Tito Award - In 2010, she was awarded the Frei Tito de Alencar Prize by the Brazilian Bar Association for her human rights activism and political leadership.

Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco - In 2010, she was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco, one of the highest honors given by the Brazilian government, for her significant contributions to the country's international relations.

Honorary Doctorate - In 2011, she received an honorary doctorate degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in recognition of her political and social contributions to Brazil.

Bertha Lutz Prize - In 2019, Benedita da Silva was awarded the Bertha Lutz Prize by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies for her work promoting women's rights and gender equality.

Honorary Citizen - In 2019, Benedita da Silva was named an honorary citizen of the city of Salvador in recognition of her contributions to social justice and human rights.

Memoir Benedita da Silva's memoir, published in 1997, provides a narrative that delves into the multifaceted aspects of her life. Through her personal experiences, reflections, and insights, she highlights the interplay between poverty and social struggles, the complexities of race and identity within the context of Brazil, and the significance of family and culture in shaping her journey. Her persistence and resilience in the face of adversity emerge as prominent themes, underscoring her dedication to activism and social issues that resonate deeply with her connection to the favela community. The book offers a portrayal of her achievements, the challenges she has encountered, and her strong commitment to effecting positive change within Brazilian society.