Pilar Barrios
Encyclopedia
Pilar Barrios was an important poet of the black community of Uruguay
. He¹ demonstrated in his poetry an understanding of the class-based racism
in his society, and expressed hope that this could be overturned by the development of a racial consciousness (awareness of negritud) and renovation of education. He was optimistic in regards to this project, because he believed in the fundamental equality of people and races, as he expressed in his poems. One of his means of expression was the journal Nuestra Raza, which he founded in 1917. By the publishing of Piel Negra in 1947, he became one of only two black Uruguayan poets to be published in book form (the other was Virginia Brindis de Salas
). As one of the most notable black intellectuals in the country, he was in contact with the larger world of black intellectual activity, corresponding with, for example, Langston Hughes
.
¹Note on gender: Although "Pilar" is generally a feminine name in Spanish, and the Spanish source below implies that Barrios is a woman, a number of English sources suggested that Barrios was a man. This should perhaps be cleared up by an expert.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. He¹ demonstrated in his poetry an understanding of the class-based racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in his society, and expressed hope that this could be overturned by the development of a racial consciousness (awareness of negritud) and renovation of education. He was optimistic in regards to this project, because he believed in the fundamental equality of people and races, as he expressed in his poems. One of his means of expression was the journal Nuestra Raza, which he founded in 1917. By the publishing of Piel Negra in 1947, he became one of only two black Uruguayan poets to be published in book form (the other was Virginia Brindis de Salas
Virginia Brindis de Salas
Virginia Brindis de Salas was a poet of the black community of Uruguay.-Background:Brindis de Salas was an active contributor to the black artistic journal Nuestra Raza. Her writings made her, along with Pilar Barrios, one of the few published Uruguayan women poets.-Poetry collections:Brindis de...
). As one of the most notable black intellectuals in the country, he was in contact with the larger world of black intellectual activity, corresponding with, for example, Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
.
¹Note on gender: Although "Pilar" is generally a feminine name in Spanish, and the Spanish source below implies that Barrios is a woman, a number of English sources suggested that Barrios was a man. This should perhaps be cleared up by an expert.