“Conceição Evaristo's Literature in the Classroom: Reports of a School Experience in Pedro Canário-ES”
Black literature; Conceição Evaristo; Literary literacy; Literary tertulia; Identity.
The research aimed to conduct and analyze a pedagogical-literary experience with first-year high school students at the State Center for Elementary and High School Education Manoel Duarte da Cunha, in Pedro Canário-ES, with an emphasis on strengthening the participants' identities. The theoretical framework of this research prioritized Black intellectuals, such as Cida Bento (2022) and her focus on the pact of whiteness; Djamila Ribeiro (2017) to problematize the subaltern's place of speech; Beatriz Nascimento (2021) to challenge the myth of racial democracy; bell hooks (2017, 2020) to discuss the importance of the concept of self-actualization; Grada Kilomba (2019) to address episodes of everyday gendered racism; Lélia Gonzalez (2020) and her contribution to the anti-racist struggle, as well as Stuart Hall (2006) to reflect on culture/literature in identity formation. The initial approach involved the analysis of the short story "Isaltina Campo Belo," extracted from Conceição Evaristo's work "Insubmissas Lágrimas de Mulheres," using the methodology of literary tertulia in dialogue with literary literacy, by Rildon Cosson (2007). The implementation of the basic didactic sequence of these methodologies included topics such as Afro-Brazilian literature, literature as a contested territory, literary canon, identity production (notably race, gender, and class) in accordance with Law 11.645/2008. Through the development of literary tertulias, students were encouraged to create original writings based on their own experiences (escrevivências). The results of these productions constitute an e-book presented as a didactic product. Based on these articulations, the aim is to expand the theoretical horizon on Black literature as a strengthener of the identities of young Black individuals, as well as its role in problematizing social disparities, especially those related to gender, race, and class, particularly in youth.