Story
From 1964-1985, there was a military dictatorship in Brazil. Once it came to a close, the country was marked by a ten-year-long period of hyperinflation that led to the first migration movement of Brazilians coming to the U.S. My parents were part of that migration movement, and like many, they entered with tourist visas they'd eventually overstay. As my parents were the first people on both sides of my family to come to the U.S., my childhood was marked by sharing our home with aunts, uncles, and cousins who had recently emigrated.

I chose these two photos to show the gradual growth of the Brazilian diaspora in the US through my family alone. The first photo shows my parents right around when they first arrived in the mid-1980s. The second photo shows my dad’s side at my uncle’s wedding about ten years later. The family photo tells our migration story by showing two of three uncles on my dad’s side who emigrated, my grandpa who was visiting, and the new generation of children born in the U.S. celebrating a new union.

I have spent the past few years writing, archiving, and creating soundscapes that reimagine diaspora and analyze the perception of Brazilian culture outside of Brazil. Through these two images, I am able to share a little piece of Afro-Brazilian history that stands outside of the typical narratives surrounding national symbols like soccer and Samba.

Creative Field: Writing

Connect: www.bebeldnilo.com @bebelduceu