Small defiances
From a 10-year-old defending parabéns in Canada to a lesbian mom creating Pride in a small city in Florida — why standing your ground matters.
My friends have been telling me I could be Maya’s mom. You know, that 10-year-old Brazilian girl who went viral defending our “parabéns” against her Canadian friend Sophie? When Sophie called Brazilian celebrations chaotic and noisy, Maya shot back: “Your birthday song sounds like elevator music!”
I felt so seen. I tell my U.S. friends their birthday song sounds like they’re mourning someone – “nem palmas batem, cruzes!”
But watching Maya defend Brazil “com unhas e dentes” made me think: sometimes pride becomes resistance.
Before we dive in, I want to celebrate three people investing in independent journalism: Jéssica M., Michael L., and Aline S. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Choosing to support independent writing is a political act—and I’m humbled you chose to make this work possible. Thank you!
“FREE” is my favorite English word. I’ll always share valuable content at no cost. If you want to support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You can also show your support by sharing this newsletter with your friends and family. 😉
Pride that grows
Last month, my neighborhood Biscayne Park held its fourth annual Pride celebration. It started with one lesbian mom who wanted her child to be proud of having two moms. For three years, she paid everything out of pocket – even hiring police for security. This year, the city took over, and almost the entire police department volunteered to help.
My first Pride was in San Francisco, the year Obama made same-sex marriage legal. I remember the vibrant party of happy colorful people celebrating love – pure magic.
The small parade here in Florida hit me differently.
In today's administration, LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack - drag shows are being banned, books about queer families are being removed from libraries.
Watching my neighborhood embrace Pride with open arms felt like pure resistência.
Pride that heals
While the new U.S. administration passes a bill to limit health care access, puts an anti-vaccine person in charge of health policy while having a measles outbreak, back in Brazil, Lula just made meningitis vaccines free for all 1-year-olds through SUS.
You know what fills me with orgulho? Our universal healthcare system that, despite all its flaws, operates on a radical premise: healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.
Meanwhile, I just paid out-of-pocket expenses despite having health insurance.
Tell me again which country is more developed?
But I’ll give credit where it’s due – I love the U.S. library system.
It’s not only books.
They have free museum passes, language classes, tax help and so much more.
Just this week I shared this with my Miamian book club (I have one in California too. Miss you, Wild Women!), and half had no idea.
“You mean I’ve been paying for museum tickets?”
Yes, querida. Yes, you could get them free.
Fun-fact about me: When I was in the West Coast, I built an educational platform to make it easier for teachers and librarians to use local nonprofit news in their classrooms and programs. Maybe that’s when I learned about their powerful resources and felt in love with the vibrant communities built around libraries.
Pride in pages
This year, I made a deal: focus on women and historically marginalized writers. So far, I’ve read 18 books, 14 by women authors — from Conceição Evaristo to Imbolo Mbue — and one by a trans man.
There’s something powerful about choosing to center these voices in your reading life. It’s a quiet form of activism, a way of saying: your stories matter, your perspectives deserve space.
It’s also an act of pride.
A form of resistance.
🔒 For paid subscribers: Next week, I’m sharing with you my 2025 reading list so far—books by women and historically marginalized voices from Brazil and beyond. Readings in English and Portuguese, just like we do here.
Not a paid subscriber yet? Consider supporting my work.
♻️ FULL CIRCLE
“No black woman writer in this culture can write “too much”. Indeed, no woman writer can write “too much”...No woman has ever written enough.”
― bell hooks
🎧 LISTEN: “Daria Um Livro” podcast, dica de uma amiga do clube do livro que me introduziu pelo episódio da Socorro Acioli, enquanto líamos Oração para Desaparecer e A Cabeça do Santo. Estou animada para mergulhar em outras conversas, a com a Aline Bei deve ser a próxima já que agora estamos lendo O Peso do Pássaro Morto.
🤓 VOTE: If you’re in the North Miami area, MOCA’s free community book club is voting on their next read. I voted for How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue—one of my happiest discoveries this year. I read this book alone and was dying to discuss it with others, so if they select it, I'll finally get my chance! Vote too and maybe we'll end up in the same discussion circle.
📚 SUBSCRIBE: Paid subscribers will receive my complete 2025 reading list with personal reflections on each book—which ones I loved, what they taught me, and which ones you should read this summer (or winter, if you’re in Brazil). Not a paid member yet? Consider supporting my independent work. That too is an act of resistance.
Stay curious and courageous,
Ana Clara Otoni 💛