Rio de Janeiro recently celebrated its 450th anniversary. Founded March, 1565, The Very Loyal and Heroic City of Saint Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro (the full title) is a cosmopolitan city with a fusion of indigenous, African, Asian, and European influences. But how can we make sure that the millions of Caricoas who have made Rio their home have an opportunity to tell their stories?
Daryle Williams, Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland; Amy Chazkel, Associate Professor of History at the City University of New York; and Paulo Knauss, Professor of History at the Universidade Federal Fluminense (Niteroi, Brazil), are the editors for The Rio de Janeiro Reader: History, Culture, Politics, recently published by Duke University Press. Collaborating with a number of scholars, the editors have compiled nearly one hundred primary source documents, ranging from letters, government documents, poems, song lyrics, and even Facebook posts. Dr. Williams discusses the book as well as Rios influence on the upcoming Olympics and political turmoil in Brazil.
Dr. Williams can be followed on Twitter ( @DaryleWilliams ), where he discusses Brazils history and culture. Be sure to also follow the hashtag #RioReader for more primary documents and stories related to Brazil.