ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION IN PRACTICE: A PEDAGOGICAL INTERVENTION PROPOSAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This experience report aims to present a pedagogical project developed with a fourth-grade elementary school class in a municipal public school located in the northern region of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The proposal was centered on the appreciation of Black identity and the confrontation of racism in childhood, through aesthetic discussions related to curly hair. Using the book Hair Love Is Queenly, by bell hooks, as a starting point, the activities promoted a symbolic journey into the African continent and Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage. The interdisciplinary practices included conversation circles, readings, image analysis, accessory making, traditional cooking, artistic experimentation, and cultural experiences such as hair braiding. The project culminated in a themed fashion show entitled “Africanities,” where children shared their learning, reinforcing self-esteem and respect for ethnic-racial diversity. The experience was supported by theoretical contributions that discuss representation and racial equity in the school context. It was found that pedagogical practices grounded in lived experience, affectivity, and cultural recognition are powerful tools in building meaningful learning and strengthening children's sense of belonging to their history and identity.