Améfrica Press believes in cultivating the next generation of scholars across the Hemisphere. This blog is exploratory and reflects our mission to challenge the boundaries of language, and geography, as a way of embracing diversity across the Améfricas, inspired by the concept of Aquilombamento. This approach empowers individuals across the African Diaspora to craft their own narratives, fostering a collective digital space for union, to re-exist, and the affirmation of their identity, culture, and history in the face of systemic inequalities. Our company gives emerging scholars the opportunity to present their research on a global stage through curated blog posts, contributing to this vital movement of self-recognition and empowerment. Check back regularly for updates from our community.

Whispers Between Two Worlds: Welcome 

(original Aquilombamento Blog post: Jan 14, 2025)

Written By Layne Gabriele

Welcome to the space where the experiences of Brazil in Baltimore meet the emotions of writing. This blog is born from the desire to record, in an intimate and sensitive way, the everyday experiences that bridge two cultures—between the warmth of the homeland and the unique climate of this American city. Here, words will serve as the thread guiding a journey that unfolds in the simple yet profound gestures of daily life: spontaneous conversations with strangers, strolls through museums that breathe history, visits to restaurants that reveal flavors and feelings, attentive listening at bus stops, footsteps echoing in parks, small rituals in cafés and markets, reading signs that translate a foreign reality, and even moments of introspection that a cold day can bring. Alongside each story, I aim to give life to a distant, yet always present, Brazil, and a Baltimore that gradually becomes familiar. May this space thus become an invitation for reflection and the sharing of the small, great stories that shape everyday life.