Playfulness as a Path to Anti-Racist Literature: A Reading of Amoras, by Emicida

Abstract

This article analyzes the importance of playfulness as a mediation strategy for anti-racist children's literature, focusing on the book Amoras (2018), by the Brazilian author Emicida. It is based on the understanding that playfulness—conceived as a dimension of play, games, and creativity—constitutes an essential resource for learning and for the cultural formation of subjects. Classic studies by Vygotsky (1998), Huizinga (2000), and Kishimoto (2011) highlight the central role of play in human development, while more recent research has expanded this debate by evidencing its relevance in diverse educational contexts (Brougère, 2010; Santos, 2016; Schlindwein; Laterman; Peters, 2017; Wajskop, 2018; Carvalho, 2020; Soares, 2021). In this sense, the aim is to show how playfulness enhances literary reading, transforming it into a pleasurable, critical, and meaningful experience. In the specific case of Amoras, the narrative emphasizes the appreciation of Black identity and children's self-esteem, configuring itself as a literature of resistance and affirmation, aligned with the movement for representativeness and the fight against racism. It is argued that playfulness, when articulated with anti-racist children's literature, enables pedagogical practices that combine imagination, enchantment, and social awareness. It is concluded that this articulation contributes to the formation of critical readers, the strengthening of positive identities, and the consolidation of a plural and democratic education that recognizes diversity as a fundamental value.