Lélia Gonzalez: Brazillian philosopher and black feminist

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The movements of black feminists urge the search for changes and liberation, overcoming sexism, racism, and classism present in various fields of society, including the philosophical realm. In these terms, critical perspectives are cast upon philosophy, and questions arise: Does philosophy, as apprehended in its history, reserve any place for the non-male, for the non-white? Does philosophy reserve any space for black women? When we direct our gaze towards philosophy and black feminisms in Brazil, what is the situation? From these and other questions, we arrive at one of the main Brazilian black philosophers and feminists: Lélia Gonzalez. Her work holds deep philosophical and conceptual richness and develops a refined analysis of the canon by proposing its subversion, creating new concepts and languages that express diverse experiences not imposed by traditional philosophy. Although trained as a philosopher, Lélia is often interpreted more through her other disciplines such as Anthropology, Geography, History, and Sociology, rather than as a philosopher. In this context, this article aims, on the one hand, to position Lélia Gonzalez as a Brazilian black feminist and philosopher, highlighting her arguments regarding the places of Brazilian black women in feminist and black movements and her philosophical arguments against cultural and linguistic oppressions. On the other hand, it seeks to problematize the invisibility and silencing of Lélia Gonzalez in the philosophical context.