Black, born and raised in a Rio de Janeiro slum, and coming from public school, I am a graduate in Geography, a PhD in Sociology of Education, a professor at Universidade Federal Fluminense for decades, former Secretary of Education for Nova Iguaçu, Founder of the Observatório de Favelas and the Maria e João Aleixo Institute, and other civil society organizations in Rio de Janeiro. I am a writer with several books published, among them: “Por que uns e não outros”; Favela: alegria e dor na cidade; O Novo Carioca; Bruxas e Bruxos da cidade; A favela reinventa a cidade.