Leci Brandão: My art is a tool for social justice.
Singer, songwriter, and state representative Leci Brandão (PCdoB), who has nearly 40 years of career experience and eight years as a parliamentarian, says that her entire trajectory is in defense of the less fortunate, and that her art is a "tool for social justice"; she also recounts having suffered prejudice when she entered the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo; "Many parliamentarians wouldn't even look me in the face"; watch the full interview on TV 247.
TV 247 - "My art has always been an instrument of social justice." That's how singer, songwriter, and state representative Leci Brandão (PCdoB-SP) defines her nearly forty-year artistic career. Besides her guaranteed presence on stage, captivating crowds, Leci has also served in the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly for eight years, with the prospect of being re-elected for a third term.
Leci Brandão emphasizes that the struggle has always been linked to her trajectory. "It was common to be called to perform on May 1st, in the Black and women's movements, I participated in the 'Diretas Já' movement, in all the Brazilian conflicts I was there, playing my tambourine," she says in an interview with the program Palanque 247.
After decades on stage and commenting on carnivals on Rede Globo, the parliamentarian recounts that, in 2009, she was invited by federal deputy Orlando Silva (PCdoB-SP) to run for state deputy for the State of São Paulo. "At first I refused, but social movements highlighted the importance of my presence in the Alesp (Legislative Assembly of São Paulo). With the blessing of my orixás (deities), I decided to accept," she recalls.
Prejudice
When she took office for her first term in 2010, Leci says she "didn't understand the intricacies of politics," but that she learned many things from the university of life. "My mother taught me six magic words: good morning, good afternoon, good evening, excuse me, please, and thank you very much," she emphasizes, explaining her fundamental values.
Following her account of her entry into the political world, Leci says she suffered prejudice in the Assembly. "Some questioned my color, gender, and humble origins, others wouldn't even look at me, but, over time, I participated in the Alesp Committees and expressed my opinions, earning my space and respect," the artist narrates.
Humble childhood
Leci says that her mandate is driven by the fight for the less fortunate and recalls her humble childhood. "My mother was a school janitor, so we always lived at the back of the school, we were homeless and didn't even know it," she remembers.
She reveals that, as soon as she learned of her victory in 2010, she called her mother to tell her that she had been elected to the largest legislative assembly in Brazil, thanking her for the "excellent upbringing she had." "I decided to use all my records as a basis for my mandate, after all, my voters were looking for a more popular stance from me," she states.
"Any member of parliament has a duty to meet the demands of the people; after all, it was the people who put them there," Leci argues, highlighting the main strength of her mandate.
Squid
When questioned about the arbitrary imprisonment of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Leci emphasizes that the former president is being victimized by the elite's anxieties, precisely because he has provided so many improvements for the working class. "I want to know what crime Lula committed, because a triplex apartment in Guarujá and a country house in Atibaia are not grounds for imprisoning him," she argues.
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