ALESSANDRA MARTINS SOUZA
Writer, Educator, Researcher & Cultural Producer
Welcome
to My Word
Poetry, memory, and cultural resistance through words.
"You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise."
Maya Angelou
About Me.
I’m an Afro-Brazilian writer, poet, and educator with over a decade of experience exploring literature as a form of resistance and cultural affirmation. In 2017, I began performing spoken word, bringing my poetry to life through performance and voice.
With a degree in Portuguese Language and Literature and a postgraduate specialization in Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous History and Culture, I develop creative, educational, and community projects focused on identity, memory, and social justice. My work has been recognized by initiatives such as Cadernos Negros and the UNESCO-supported short film Sou Livre, and I remain deeply engaged in the intersections of art, education, and activism.
Education
2023-2025
MBA in Marketing
University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
Thesis: Branding and Brand Creation Strategies in the United States
2021-2022
Postgraduate Certificate in Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous History and Culture
UNINTER – Centro Universitário Internacional, Brazil
Focused on Indigenous worldviews, Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous cultural expressions, resistance movements, and historical narratives often silenced in traditional education. Although the program did not require a final thesis, it involved critical readings and research on Indigenous worldviews and Afro-Brazilian historical narratives.
Student Cultural Exchange
Griffith College, Dublin, Ireland
Participated in a cultural exchange program, studying and living in an English-speaking environment. Gained cultural fluency and improved communication skills.
Worked part-time as a sales assistant in a retail clothing store, developing customer service experience and time management skills while studying abroad.
2018 - 2019
2007-2012
Bachelor’s Degree in Portuguese Language and Literature
Universidade Estácio de Sá
Final Undergraduate Research Project (Monograph):
Exploration of Linguistic Variation in Brazil, with focus on diastratic (social), diaphasic (contextual), and diatopic (regional) aspects of language.
The research investigated how social class, communicative context, and geographic region influence linguistic variation in Brazilian Portuguese. It included an analysis of song lyrics by Luiz Gonzaga and Bezerra da Silva as cultural texts, illustrating how sociolinguistic diversity is reflected in popular Brazilian music.
Complete Biography
Alessandra Martins is an Afro-Brazilian whose work centers on Black identity, memory, and resistance.
Since 2017, she has actively participated in poetry slams and spoken word events, using performance as a powerful tool for expression and resistance. During the pandemic in 2021, she took part in several online poetry competitions, winning some battles and reaching the finals in others, continuing to share her voice even in times of isolation.
Since childhood, Alessandra has been passionate about storytelling. She used to craft handmade books, inventing stories and characters that reflected her world and imagination. This early love for writing evolved into a lifelong commitment to literature, culture, and education.
She wrote her first Afro-centered poem, Orgulho Negro, in 2008 - a pivotal moment when she truly found her identity and voice as a Black woman. However, it was only in 2012 that she had her first text published: a short story inspired by early experiences of violence, addressing the theme of child abuse and breaking a long-held silence. That story marked a turning point in her path as a writer, using literature as a means of healing, resistance, and awareness.
In November 2024, she was honored to be invited by Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality to attend the official parallel event to the G20 Social Summit, fully sponsored, as her short story O Sol Brilha Para Todos was selected to be part of an anthology featuring works by 30 women writers.
She was selected in 2021 for the Black and Indigenous Narratives Lab (FLUP + Rede Globo) and was honored by UNESCO in 2017 with an Honorable Mention for her short film Sou Livre, a poem she wrote and which was performed by Black voices.
Author of the poetry book Voa, Sankofa, Voa!, she explores themes of Black identity, memory, and resistance through her work. Her creative practice is deeply rooted in research, supporting educational and artistic projects focused on history, culture, and Black resistance.
She has led educational and social initiatives in underserved communities and participated in literary anthologies such as Cadernos Negros, a historic and ongoing series published annually by Quilombhoje Literatura since 1978, which amplifies the voices of Black Brazilian writers and plays a key role in the country’s literary and racial justice movements.
Alessandra Martins continues to build bridges between literature, activism, and education, driven by a desire to elevate marginalized voices, promote historical awareness, and foster cultural transformation.
Recognitions
Invited Guest – G20 Social Parallel Event
2024
Invited with full sponsorship by the Brazilian Ministry of Racial Equality to represent the short story O Sol Brilha Para Todos, selected for an anthology of 30 Black women writers.
Honorable Mention – IberCultura Viva + UNESCO
2017
For the poem Sou Livre, performed by Black voices. Recognized for its contribution to Afro-Brazilian narrative and collective memory.
Arte em Movimento Trophy
2023 and 2022
Awarded by the Arte em Movimento Collective (RJ) in recognition of literary and cultural contribution.
Selected Participant – FLUP + Globo Audiovisual Lab
2021
Chosen for the Black and Indigenous Audiovisual Narrative Lab by FLUP and Globo Network.
Three Poems Published in Revista Acrobat, a platform dedicated to contemporary Brazilian literature. The selected pieces — Jurema Preta, Bicho Solto, and Negra Soul — explore themes such as ancestry, freedom, and the affirmation of Black identity. With sensitive and powerful language, the poems weave together spirituality, memory, and resistance, highlighting the poet’s strong connection to Afro-Brazilian culture.This publication reinforces Alessandra’s rising presence as a poetic voice in Brazil’s literary scene. Read the full poems here:
Three Poems Published in Revista Arara
My poems “Where is Love?”, “Universo Inverso”, and “Black Pride” were featured in Revista Arara, an independent Latin American art and literature magazine. Dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices across the continent, the publication celebrates powerful, decolonial expressions of identity, memory, and resistance.
Through these poems, I reflect on the Black experience, confronting structural racism and affirming cultural pride through rhythm, emotion, and ancestral echoes. Read the full poems here:
In the 3rd edition of Vinca Literary Magazine, a publication dedicated to promoting the writing of women across Latin America, my poem “Ode to Woman” was published. This issue was symbolically released in March, celebrating International Women's Day. Created by an all-women editorial team, the magazine has become a powerful space for voice, listening, and resistance through literature.
Read the issue featuring this poem:
Anthology Mulheres das Ervas – Revista África e Africanidades
I had a poem published in the anthology Mulheres das Ervas, released by the journal África e Africanidades. This publication brings together powerful female voices in a celebration of ancestry, femininity, and the symbolic strength of herbs as tools of healing, resistance, and spirituality. It is a space where poetry, identity, and Afro-diasporic memory come together.
Slam Resistência – Spoken Word Competition
Slam Resistência is a powerful spoken word poetry competition that celebrates resistance, identity, and the transformative power of voice. Created to amplify the narratives of marginalized communities, especially Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous voices, the event provides a platform for poets to express their realities through rhythm, performance, and emotion.
The journal África e Africanidades hosts the National Gathering of Black Writers, celebrating and promoting the voices, narratives, and cultural contributions of Afro-Brazilian authors.
Invitation to participate in the Latinidades Festival, one of the largest events in Latin America dedicated to Black women. I shared one of my original poems in this powerful space of celebration, resistance, and creative expression. It was a remarkable experience to be among voices that echo memory, struggle, and transformation, celebrating culture and identity through poetry.
Meeting with the Poets of Cadernos Negros Vol. 43
This gathering featured writers from the 43rd volume of Cadernos Negros, launched in 2021. The invited guests discussed the growing presence and impact of Black women authors in the Brazilian literary landscape.
With Alessandra Martins, Esmeralda Ribeiro, Thaise Santana, and Nana Martins.
Community Work
Much of my community work is rooted in the desire to bring dignity, care, and love to people’s lives, whether through donations of essential goods or by sharing poetry and knowledge. Often, we arrive with the intention to teach, but in the end, we are the ones who learn the most. We learn from the simplicity, the life experiences, and the warmth of those we meet. In a world where love feels increasingly scarce, I believe that offering affection, empathy and attention is a powerful way to build a better, more human world.
SOCIAL SUPPORT
In this area of my work, I focus on direct support for families and communities in vulnerable situations, through the donation of diapers, food baskets, and time dedicated to educational projects. These are small gestures that carry big meaning, rooted in solidarity and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and care.
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Cultural Volunteering
Cultural volunteering is where I merge my artistic work with my social commitment. From poetry presentations in libraries and schools to participating in cultural festivals and youth programs, I offer words, stories, and listening as tools of transformation. In these spaces, I’ve learned that culture is not a luxury, it’s a bridge that connects, heals, and empowers.
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