Tulane University

By Hannah Dean

“Brazilian activist Lira Alli spoke, sang and inspired during her lecture titled ‘€œBrazil ‘€” Past, Present and Future: A Youth Perspective‘€ on Friday (Sept. 25) at the Stone Center for Latin American Studies.

Alli began by noting that this was her first lecture in English after starting to learn the language only six months before. She had previously been vehemently opposed to learning English, she said, believing that it was ‘€œan imperialist language,‘€ until a participant in her drumming classes pointed out the imperialism inherent in Portuguese.

Alli spoke about her involvement in Levante Popular da Juventude (Popular Youth Uprising), a youth movement that uses various art forms, such as drumming, singing and dancing, to fight for social justice in Brazil. The organization was established in 2002 as its leaders campaigned against a South American commercial trade agreement that eventually they helped to prevent.”

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