IDENTITY ELEMENTS AND AFRO-BRAZILIAN REPRESENTATION IN THE NARRATIVE CABELO RUIM?, BY NEUSA BAPTISTA PINTO
Children’s and Youth Literature; Cabelo ruim?; Neusa Baptista Pinto; Identity, Afro-Brazilian Representativity.
This study aims to reflect on the representation of the black character in the book Cabelo ruim? by Neuza Baptista Pinto. Currently there are studies that portray the experiences of black people in an affirmative way, but that was not always the case. Black characters were represented through stereotypes, which resulted and still results in the non-acceptance of the characteristics of black people. In the analyzed work it is possible to notice, through the characters' actions, the search for the recognition of their own beauty and the acceptance of afro hair. In order to understand the situations experienced by the characters Bia, Tatá, and Ritinha, the concepts of race, structural racism, and hair as a symbol of identity were discussed. To support the discussions, theorists such as Lojolo and Zilberman (2019, 2022), Perroti (1986), and Camargo (1998) were used to discuss children's and teenage literature and illustrations. To underpin the reflections on black literature and identity, highlighting the contributions of these narratives to the identity construction of black children, the research sought to anchor itself in the studies of Gomes (2002, 2008, 2011, 2017), Debus (2007, 2009, 2012, 2017), Duarte (2009), Cuti (2010), and Fanon (2008). Regarding the concept of race and racism, it focused on the writings of Almeida (2021). Although it is necessary to rethink some points in Cabelo ruim?, through the analyzed excerpts of the narrative and illustrations, it is evident that the work contributes to break with the stereotypes attributed to the black child, becoming a support to strengthen the identity constructions of black people in a positive and affirmative way.