The document illustrates how favelas emerged in unison with stigmas and stereotypes which they have struggled to shake to the current day.

The National Day is  a landmark step to re-appropriate the word ‘favela', purging it of its old and out-dated negative associations, and filling it instead with color, beauty and cultural depth.

on this day, many celebratory events take place across rio de janeiro, and in most if not all cultural and community centers in rio's favelas.

with the cultural integration of favelas high on everyone's agenda, many new events are being organized throughout the city and in the favelas.