Dialogues of Eulalia: Forging a Black Woman Intellectual in Central America

Abstract

Discussions of Latin American intellectuals are racial and gender biased. As a contribution, this article examines the foundations of Eulalia Bernard’s Black political thought in her poetry vinyl Negritud (1976), and the book Nuevo ensayo sobre la existencia y la libertad política (1981). The Afro-Costa Rican writer and activist dialogues intellectually, sensorially and emotionally with various diaspora historical figures, music and literature for the creation and display of her first cultural products. Analyzing this intellectual genesis shows the influence of Negritude, the circulation and exchange of ideas and aesthetics of Black, African-American, Caribbean and African movements. From a relational perspective, Bernard's proposal suggests not only her central role in the Afro-Latin American political and cultural scene, it also opens new horizons of comparative readings of other Black women writers in the region whose work as intellectuals is just beginning to be recognized.

Keywords

• afro-latin american culture
• black movement
• black political thought
• eulalia bernard
• negritude