Ialodes and feminists.: Reflections on Black women's political action in Latin America and the Carribbean

The political action of Afro-descendant feminists in Latin America and the Caribbean takes place in the context of historical processes such as colonization and slavery. Through the images of the Ialodes, symbols of female leadership in African culture brought to Brazil through the Candomble religion, the author showcases some elements of Afro-descendant women's political practices that antedate theoretical feminism as it emerged in the West. While criticizing the forms of feminism introduced into Latin America and the Caribbean from the United States for their racist and classist, and thus exclusionary, perspectives, she nonetheless points to some of their positive contributions. The article also presents a critique of identity politics as embraced by a significant part of the Afro-descendant women's movement, finding it insufficient in order to create the mobilization necessary to act against the globalization of the economy and new political contexts. In this sense, it presents new challenges for anti-racist and anti-sexist social movements.