The Journey to Cultural Sensitivity: How João Pedro Corrêa da Silva Changed My Story

When I began writing my book, I knew that cultural sensitivity was non-negotiable. Representing Brazil authentically, with all its nuances and complexities, was crucial. But how does one ensure cultural accuracy, especially when writing about a place they’ve never lived in? My journey to find the right person to guide me was anything but straightforward—but it led me to João Pedro Corrêa da Silva, a wonderful Brazilian academic who made all the difference.

Casting a Wide Net

At first, I decided to contact every Brazilian academic I could find in the UK—anyone who was an expert in Brazil, sociology, gender studies, cultural studies, or history. I sent out countless emails, hoping for guidance. Two people replied. One said they’d ask Brazilian students for help but never followed up. The other initially expressed interest but eventually stopped responding.

Undeterred, I shifted my focus to Brazilian historians in Brazil. I targeted less prominent universities, assuming academics there might have more time to help. Zero responses.

I had signed up at the Brazilian Embassy in the UK, a while ago but wasn’t sure who to contact there. I even searched through U.S. academic websites. Finally, I had a breakthrough: I decided to look for PhD students and researchers instead of professors. That’s when I found João Pedro Corrêa da Silva at the University of Indiana Bloomington, where they have a Latino Cultural Centre.

João Pedro Corrêa da Silva with scenic nature inspired background

Finding João

João responded to my queries with kindness and curiosity. He agreed to review my work, pointing out areas where I hadn’t represented Brazilian culture accurately. One of his surprising observations was about the Amazon rainforest. I had assumed it was a vast, faraway place from Bahia, but João explained that the distances weren’t as great as I imagined. This small correction was eye-opening and reinforced how much I still had to learn.

What made João truly remarkable was his generosity. Despite the time and effort he put into helping me, he refused payment. His feedback saved me hundreds of pounds I didn’t have, but more importantly, it saved my story from potential inaccuracies.

A Token of Gratitude

I couldn’t let João’s kindness go unacknowledged. After learning that his favourite band was Queen, I sent him a one-of-a-kind coffee table book about them. His response was priceless—he was thrilled and deeply moved by the gift. Knowing how much it meant to him filled me with warmth and gratitude.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me two invaluable lessons:

Keep Pushing: When one door closes, knock on another. And another. Persistence pays off.

The World is Full of Generosity: Strangers can surprise you with their kindness, giving freely of their time and expertise.

João’s willingness to help a writer he’d never met reaffirmed my belief in the power of human connection. This is why we tell stories—because people are amazing.

A Question for You

If you’re writing about a culture or place outside your own, how will you ensure your work is authentic? Will you reach out to people who live that reality every day? And what will you learn from the journey?

For me, this journey wasn’t just about cultural sensitivity; it was about discovering the beauty of collaboration and the generosity of the human spirit. Thank you, João, for showing me that.