Antonieta de Barros


Antonieta de Barros was a Brazilian journalist and politician.

Life and career

Born in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina on July 17, 1901, Antonieta de Barros was a pioneer in fighting the discrimination against blacks and women. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina as the first black female state deputy in the country and the first woman deputy in her state. Antonieta was a professor, journalist and writer, remembered most for her ability to express her ideas within a historical context which did not permit a woman's freedom of expression.
In addition to political militancy, Antonieta actively participated in the cultural life of her state. She founded and directed the journal "A Semana" between the years of 1922 and 1927. During this period, through her chronicles, she circulated her ideas, principally those linked to questions of education, oppressive policies, the feminine condition, and racial prejudice. She also directed a biweekly magazine "Vida Ilhoa" in 1930, and wrote various articles for local journals. In 1937, under the pseudonym Maria da Ilha, she wrote her book Farrap, os de Ideias
She was a deputy of the Santa Catarina Legislative Assembly in the :pt:Lista dos deputados estaduais da 1ª legislatura de Santa Catarina |1ª legislatura , aligned with the :pt:Partido Liberal Catarinense|Partido Liberal Catarinense . She was state deputy in the :pt:Lista dos deputados estaduais de Santa Catarina - 1ª legislatura |1ª legislatura , called as an alternate, affiliated with the :pt:Partido Social Democrático |Partido Social Democrático .
The Legislative Assembly of Santa Catarina annually awards the "Medalha Antonieta de Barros" to women with relevant service in defense of Catarinense women's rights. The :pt:Túnel Antonieta de Barros|túnel da Via Expressa Sul, in Florianópolis, was given her name.