VOICES THAT ECHO IN THE CIRCLE

MEMORIES, KNOWLEDGES, AND PRACTICES FOR AN ANTIRACIST PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The article presents an experience report from the project Vozes que Ecoam na Roda (Voices that Echo in the Circle), carried out in the public school system of Vargem Grande Paulista (São Paulo, Brazil), with classes from the early years of elementary school. The activities took place during Physical Education classes, and this article presents a specific account of the work developed with first-grade children. The proposal is grounded in a political-pedagogical practice committed to building an antiracist, plural, and emancipatory education. Through attentive listening to children and the appreciation of Black references — with emphasis on the protagonism of women who have made and continue to make history — the activities mobilize knowledge, memories, and practices rooted in Afro-Brazilian and African cultures. This approach challenges eurocentric curricula and their colonial legacies, opening pathways to other ways of being, existing, teaching, and learning. Based on Afro-Brazilian civilizational values, the project reaffirms the centrality of childhoods in formative processes. It highlights how diverse narratives, images, and practices strengthen the identity, self-esteem, and dignity of Black children, while also inviting non-Black children to recognize and respect differences.