Dia da Consciência Negra, or Black Awareness Day, is celebrated on this day every year in Brazil. The date of the holiday was selected to honor Zumbi dos Palmares for his life as a freedom fighter. Zumbi was the last leader of the Quilombos, escaped former slaves who formed settlements of thousands of people, hounded ruthlessly by the wealthy land-owning Portugese. Considered the patron saint of the fighting art, Capoeria, Zumbi was a brilliant strategist who outwitted the well-armed troops for many years, in an attempt to maintain the freedom of his people.
Zumbi was a Firebrand! This illustration for Firebrands: Portraits from the Americas is by Roger Peet, also a brilliant strategist.