Alzira Rufino
Alzira Rufino founded the Collective of Black
She has written Mulher Negra uma perspectiva
histórica, and is the co-author of
Mulher Negra tem história.
She has written several articles that appeared
in the press of Baixada Santista.
She participated in the Second Meeting of
Black Brazilian Authors and Fiction Writers held
in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro in September 1987.
Here is a sample of her work.
Sinais Signs
Rumor esconde segredos Rumor hides secrets eu dentro desta fusão I within this fusion cigana diferente a different gypsy leio rostos I read faces melancolia melancholy o latifúndio resiste latifundum resists a vida aborta life aborts eu produto desta argila I, a product from this clay e tudo se multiplica. and everything multiplies itself.
Resgate Ransom
Sou negra ponto final I am a black woman period devolva-me a identidade return my identity to me rasgue minha certidão tear up my birth certificate sou negra sem reticências I am a black woman without ellipses sem vírgulas e sem ausências Without commas,and anything missing não quero mais meio termo I no longer want in-betweens sou negra balacobaco I am a black woman "cannon ball" sou negra noite cansaço I am a black woman night weariness sou negra ponto final I am a black woman period
Poems and biography taken from "Finally Us"
An original by
Contemporary Black Brazilian Women Writers.
Dual Brazilian-English Poetry Anthology.
Edited/Selected by Miriam Alves and translated by Carolyn R. Durham.
Three Continents Press.
Colorado Springs, CO 80937.
© 1994 Miriam Aparecida Alves & Carolyn Richardson Durham.
All rights reserved. No part of this page may be used or reproduced
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