This is the blackest city in the world, outside the boundaries of Africa.

And yet, it isn't the utopia it should be.

Here's why what happens there is important to us here.

This is two-minute black history, what you didn't learn in school.

Along Brazil's northeastern coast is Salvador de Baya, the blackest city outside of Africa.

Over 80% of the city identifies as Afro-Brazilian, but it's no utopia for our people.

It's known to many as black Rome.

Salvador is a hub of black culture.

With no reason needed for celebrating, a walk through the city means hearing drums

roar by Afro-inspired goods from boutiques and eating local dishes made with ingredients

that show up around the diaspora like black IPs and Oprah.

But Brazil was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, and the cloud of

anti-blackness still hovers over the city.

Like our people fighting for liberation in the United States, Afro-Brazilians have also

been fighting.

From working from sun up to sundown since the dawn of the 17th century on sugar plantations

to fighting modern-day systemic racism, this struggle is all ours.

Black Brazilians have inequitable access to healthcare, and are three times more likely

to be killed by police.

Salvador proves that representation alone isn't enough to sway systemic change.

Despite where we ended up, black folks across the African diaspora have always experienced

the world similarly.

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