Mãe Preta, Commemorative statue in Largo do Paiçandu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Description
Mãe Preta is a bronze sculpture on a stone base near Largo do Paiçandu. It depicts an African woman sitting with a distant gaze while nursing a child.
History
The work was created in 1955 by sculptor Júlio Guerra after the Black community of São Paulo campaigned for many years for a monument. Its creation was part of efforts to make the history of enslaved people visible in the city.
Culture
The statue shows the forced role of enslaved women as wet nurses for children of white families. This portrayal makes visible the daily reality these women experienced and honors their unseen contributions to the city.
Practical
The monument sits between the São Bento and República metro stations, making it easy to reach by public transportation. The nearby Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos offers another site worth visiting in the area.
Did you know?
More than 500 people signed a petition supporting the monument before it was built. It remains the only work depicting a Black figure created for the city's 400th anniversary celebration.
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