A Walk Through Rio de Janeiro’s Afro-Brazilian History

Brazil’s National Day of Black Consciousness, their version of Black History Month, kicked off last Sunday with festivities held throughout the week. In Rio de Janeiro, Afro-Brazilian activist and scholar Carlos Medeiros gives a tour through the city's historic Afro-Brazilian landmarks. Today, 97 million Brazilians identify themselves as Black or mixed race. Up until 1888, when slavery ended in Brazil, an estimated between 500,000 to one million enslaved Africans came through Rio de Janeiro’s port, "Cais do Valongo" or Valango Wharf. Here, we learn all about it.