1888 – Slavery Officially Abolished in Brazil

On May 13, 1888, Brazil passed the \”Lei Áurea\” or \”Golden Law,\” formally abolishing slavery in the country—the last nation in the Western Hemisphere to do so. Signed by Princess Isabel of Portugal, the law immediately freed nearly 700,000 enslaved Africans and their descendants. Brazil had been one of the largest importers of enslaved Africans, with over 4 million people brought over during the transatlantic slave trade. Though the law ended legal enslavement, formerly enslaved people were not granted land, compensation, or systemic support, creating lasting racial inequalities. Today, Afro-Brazilians face ongoing disparities rooted in that legacy. May 13 is recognized as a day of liberation and a reminder of the long journey toward racial equity in Brazil. This landmark date is both a celebration and a call to continue dismantling systemic racism in Brazil and throughout the African diaspora.