Breu
Xênia França Lyrics

Xênia França's song "Breu" is a powerful commentary on the erasure of black identity and the exploitation of black women's bodies. The opening lines, "Quem clareia o breu/De sua nudez meia verdade?" ("Who brightens the dark/Of its half-truth nakedness?") speak to the idea that society has attempted to obscure and downplay the experiences of black people, especially black women. The following lines, "Quem desmancha o véu/E alveja descendente identidade?" ("Who tears apart the veil/And whitens descendant identity?") allude to the pressure for black people to assimilate to white standards and erase their cultural heritage.

The repeated line, "Some o negro ouro betume costume imposto açoite" ("Fades the black gold tar imposed custom whip"), refers to the attempts to erase black culture and history, not just through colorism and whitewashing, but also through the physical violence of colonialism and slavery. The next line, "Suja outro nome, outro tato/Mulata, aquela de cor" ("Soiling another name, another touch/Mulata, the one of color"), speaks to the fetishization and hypersexualization of black women's bodies, reducing them to labels like "mulata" and "a de cor."

The final lines, "Vende-se o coito, a carne barata do dia pra noite/Outra mulher, outro fim, mesma dor" ("Selling sex, cheap meat from day to night/Another woman, different end, same pain") highlights the exploitation and abuse of black women's bodies and the cycle of generational trauma that comes with it.

Overall, Xênia França's "Breu" is a poignant call-out of the violence and erasure that black people face, particularly black women, and a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating black culture.