“Voices-women” of the thirld world - the perspective of Conceição Evaristo

Abstract

This paper analyses the poem “Vozes-Mulheres” (voices-women), by Conceição Evaristo. Black women who are part of the extended family of the poetic persona are represented by the voices presented in the poem. The aim of this paper is apply the theory of Third World Women brought forth by Gayatri Spivak and developed by scholars as Chandra Talpade Mohanty to the voices in the poem by discussing the voices of the Third World Women and the subaltern studies.  The investigation methodology is based in theoretical texts that discuss if the subaltern has a voice, and the attempt of agency developed by the voices in the poem, as studied by Spivak (1987), Mohanty (2003), Maggio (2007) and others. In the poem, one can observe the voice as a resistance mechanism by the poetic persona who struggles for a space in society. The payback happens via speech, and speech becomes the tool for the liberation of the black woman persona. The results of the analysis evidence that the identity of the black women voices is constructed from the moment that the present voice mixes up with the voices of the previous and the future generations, so those voices can be heard. By using her voice as a poor, black woman and intellectual, Evaristo focuses on her own condition and the possibilities of reconfiguring her role in society as a black woman.