“Dia da Consciência Negra” and the coffee (English text)

November 20th is the Black Consciousness Day in Brazil. The date was chosen in 2003 because it is the date attributed to the death of Zumbi dos Palmares, who was the great martyr in the Brazilian black struggle. Many slaves worked on Brazilian coffee plantations and after the abolition of slavery in 1888 they were replaced by immigrants.

I, Isabela Santos, founder of IsaBee Coffees, from my privileged position, ask permission to speak few but important words on this subject, on this very important day.

The immigrants who replaced slaves on the coffee plantations after the abolition of slavery, even with poor working conditions, gained the status of having lifted the economy. At the same time, blacks were forced to look for jobs analogous to slavery. The history of slavery cannot be changed, but the struggle belongs to all of us and still continues. Pay attention to the coffee you buy. Do you know where it comes from? We must always be conscious of justice and reparation. Thank you for your attention.