Maria Anastasia de Cavalcanti

Brazilian abolitionist who operated a clandestine school for enslaved children in Rio de Janeiro

Maria Anastasia de Cavalcanti (1828-1903) was a Brazilian abolitionist from Rio de Janeiro whose secret educational efforts challenged slavery during the Empire period. Born into a wealthy family, she used her social position to create a clandestine school network in Rio's slums starting in 1857, teaching literacy to over 800 enslaved children despite harsh penalties for such activities. Her memoir 《Whispers of Freedom》 (available at National Library) describes her methods of disguising lessons as religious instruction. In 1868, she founded the Anastasia Institute, Brazil's first vocational school for former slaves, offering training in carpentry and midwifery.

Her 1880 pamphlet 《Education is Liberation》 became a key abolitionist text, influencing Emperor Pedro II's gradual abolition policies. Though arrested three times, her network persisted through the 1888 Abolition, continuing to assist emancipated families. Historians note her approach combined education with economic empowerment, as seen in her cooperative workshops documented in 《Building Tomorrow》 (digitized at Memória Viva). The Anastasia Museum in Petrópolis preserves her lesson materials and student artworks. Her work laid groundwork for Brazil's early 20th century public education reforms.