Difficulties in the permanence and graduation of black undergraduates

Some time ago, it was a goal to write something about ethnic-racial and educational issues in higher education. However, things happen not in our time, but in the time of God and Our Lady of Aparecida. At the end of my Law degree, I had the opportunity to take some thoughts out of the realm of ideas and this resulted in this writing. The invisibility of black people in academic spaces has always been a concern for me, but more than that, the difficulties of staying in the classroom and graduating also frightened me throughout my academic life. This led me to work on this project. I would like to thank my wife Ana Paula do Couto, whom I affectionately call Preta, for her loyalty, tireless companionship and understanding of the complex days when I was away due to my dedication to this work and the journey to achieve this result. To my parents, teachers of life, Ademar and Carmem do Couto. And also to my peers, black men and women, who make a daily effort to complete higher education. Know that you are not alone, this is our fight, we are together. Forward, always! Persevere, that’s the secret.