Last week, in a striking visual statement on representation in literature, Amazon Brazil transformed the Memorial of Latin America Library, emptying shelves to showcase only works by Black authors. The installation, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, highlighted the stark underrepresentation of Black voices in Brazil's literary landscape.
The campaign connects to a broader initiative by Amazon, the Kindle Black Voices Prize (Prêmio Kindle Vozes Negras), which recognizes independent Black authors publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing. The competition, open for submissions until 6 April 2025, offers winners cash prizes as well as publication deals with Companhia das Letras, plus audiobook conversion through Audible Brazil.
Amazon's library installation turns the underrepresentation of Black voices into a visceral, tangible experience. It's not just about highlighting the issue; it's about making people feel and grasp the absence of writing by authors who have been systemically sidelined. That said, Amazon's initiative also raises questions about who controls the future of Black literature. True progress will come when diverse voices are wholeheartedly embedded into the publishing ecosystem — without needing corporate allyship to bring attention to their existence.
