*Content translated with artificial intelligence*

Over the years, concepts developed by Ribeiro have been cited in perfect-score (“nota mil”) essays and adopted in classrooms nationwide.

On the eve of the 2025 *Enem, Djamila Ribeiro took to social media to celebrate a long-solidifying achievement: her work’s prominent role as essential source material (“repertório”) for students across Brazil. The 2025 essay prompt, “Perspectives on aging in Brazilian society,” only confirmed the lasting impact of her work on Brazilian education.

“I am thrilled to know my works serve as source material for so many students across Brazil,” Ribeiro wrote in a post on November 9. “I always wanted to be an author present in primary and secondary education, and one of my greatest joys is knowing I am contributing to shaping a generation.”

A Trajectory Marked by “Nota Mil” (Perfect Score) Essays

In recent years, Djamila Ribeiro’s name has become a recurrent feature among students who achieve the maximum score (known as “nota mil,” or 1000 points) on the Enem essay. In 2022, Juliana Moreau de Almeida Soares, 18, from Minas Gerais and living in Itamaraju (BA), was one of the candidates who hit the 1000-point mark by citing the Brazilian philosopher in her text.

The feat was repeated in 2023, when Arthur Sanches Sales, from Belém (PA), and Maria Luiza Januzzi, from Valença (RJ), also achieved perfect scores by directly referencing Ribeiro’s work. In their essays, the students incorporated concepts developed by the author, arguing that to address a situation, “one must, first of all, pull it from invisibility,” applying her reflections on the importance of spotlighting neglected social issues.

From Book Clubs to Classrooms

Ribeiro’s influence on Brazilian education extends far beyond essay citations. On Instagram, the author highlighted the many messages she receives “from educators who, through book clubs, function as reverberating circles for ideas.”

“My profound gratitude to these spaces, as they have been the engine fostering access to and democratization of my texts,” the philosopher stated.

Her works are incorporated into schools in multiple formats: “This has been happening for years, in various artistic forms: in projects, exhibitions, dances, choirs, paintings, documentaries, and much more.”

A recent experience that marked the author was her participation in the “Combinando Palavras” (Combining Words) project in Ribeirão Preto, linked to the local Book Fair. Honored in the Education category, Ribeiro witnessed over 1,200 public school students ground their thoughts in her reflections. “It was beautiful!” she celebrated.

The Significance of Black Consciousness Month

The Enem, traditionally held in November—Brazil’s Black Consciousness Month—holds a special dimension for Ribeiro. “This exam, taking place every year during Black Consciousness Month, always reminds me of the reach of my journey as a Black woman,” she reflected.

For the philosopher, this recognition runs deep. “I thank the educators for sharing my work and developing so many actions based on it,” she wrote, adding: “I was a public school teacher myself and have immense respect for the work of our teachers who, despite all the challenges, keep believing in critical education.”

Present from North to South

From public to private schools, from small towns to major urban centers, Djamila Ribeiro’s works are part of student education across the entire nation. On social media, trends of young people discussing her books are common, and with each Enem edition, the Brazilian philosopher receives a “flood of affectionate messages.”

The testimonials she shared reveal the impact: “I cited you in 2020 and would cite you 1,000 more times. I got 2nd place for Philosophy at UFFS,” one student wrote. Another declared, “I cited you in my Enem essay too, got a 100% scholarship for Civil Engineering.”

“Djamila, I thank you for your teachings!” affirmed another follower. And still another: “You are a reference on the Enem and in all our lives.”

A Message to Students

Ribeiro concluded her post with a message of encouragement for the candidates: “I wish you great success! May you reach your goals and conquer your right to higher education!”

Perspective Confirmed in 2025

The Brazilian philosopher, currently a visiting professor at MIT, returned to social media on Monday, the 11th, to share the massive number of messages she received after the exam. Her reflections on intersectionality and the aging of the Black population were widely cited by candidates. The theme, “Perspectives on aging in Brazilian society,” directly connects with her latest book, Cartas para minha avó (Letters to My Grandmother), and with one of her columns in Folha de S. Paulo, published last September.

On social media, the author celebrated that her reflections on the issue served as source material for thousands of students nationwide. “It is with a heart overflowing with joy and gratitude that I receive thousands of messages from all over the country. On TikTok, especially, it’s beautiful to see!” she celebrated.

An Anticipated Reflection

In her Folha de S.Paulo column, published on September 11, 2025, the philosopher addressed exactly how racial discrimination profoundly affects the aging of the Black population. “This is a fundamental issue: the impossibility of aging with proper quality of life,” she wrote at the time.

In the text, titled “Is age just a number?”, Djamila highlighted that “in many places, aging with quality of life is practically a miracle,” offering students an urgent and indispensable intersectional perspective for the debate on aging.

In Ribeiro’s words, the theme related to aging represents “the greatest honor” she could receive “as a writer and a Black woman.”

“You were right to use visibility as a tool for change,” the philosopher stated, addressing the students. “The act of aging, often invisibilized or depicted through stereotypes, demands to be seen in all its complexity, beauty, and dignity.”

Connection with “Cartas para a minha avó” (Letters to My Grandmother)

Djamila also highlighted the connection between the exam’s theme and her book “Cartas para a minha avó,” where she reflects on the power of time and memory, revisiting her childhood and adolescence to discuss themes like Black ancestry and the challenges of raising children in a racist society. The narrative is told through letters to her late grandmother Antônia—caring and loving, knowledgeable in healing herbs, and a highly sought-after benzedeira (a traditional folk healer).

In an excerpt cited in the post, the author wrote: “This image of the ‘strong Black woman’ is very cruel. People forget we aren’t naturally strong. We have to be because the State is neglectful and violent. To restore humanity also means to accept the fragilities and pains inherent to the human condition. We are either subalternized or we are goddesses. I ask: when do we get to be human?”

The connection to the Enem essay theme challenges the stereotypes that impede a humane and complex view of elderly people, especially Black women.

The Essence of Dignity

“This is the essence: making the lives of our elderly population visible is fundamental to building a just future,” Djamila stated in her Monday post, echoing the arguments students used in their essays.

The philosopher made a point to celebrate every student who used her work as a reference: “Congratulations to every student who gave their best. I am cheering for you, vibrating with every citation and every thought that expands. My deepest thanks for all the affection and for making my voice echo on such an important stage for Brazilian education. You are incredible!”

Messages from Students

Social media was flooded with testimonials from candidates who used Djamila’s works in the 2025 Enem. “I cited the thinker Djamila Ribeiro in my essay,” one student wrote. Another affirmed: “I used Djamila Ribeiro’s ‘repertório’ and I’m super confident!!!”

“Djamila Ribeiro is in my introduction!” a candidate celebrated. Another declared: “I 💛 Djamila Ribeiro.”

In other messages, students were even more emphatic: “Citing Djamila in the essay was ABSOLUTE CINEMA,” “I used you as source material,” “Thank you for everything, Djamila!” and “My passing grade (aprovação) is coming with EVERYTHING!” a follower decreed, confidently.

Cheering for Day Two

The second day of exams is scheduled for next Sunday (16), and Ribeiro ended her message on social media with encouragement for the youths: “I’m cheering hard for you! Onward! 💚🏹”

The connection between Djamila Ribeiro’s intellectual work and the theme proposed by the 2025 Enem demonstrates how her reflections on intersectionality, racism, and social invisibility have become fundamental to the critical thinking of Brazilian youth, establishing the philosopher as one of the country’s leading educational references.

*The Enem (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio) is Brazil’s national high school exam. It functions as the primary, and often sole, admissions tool for the country’s public universities, similar to the SAT or ACT in the United States, but with significantly higher stakes. The exam includes a high-pressure essay where students must write a “dissertação-argumentativa” (argumentative essay) on a specific social, cultural, or political theme, citing external sources or concepts, known as “repertório” (repertoire or source material).

See the post from November 9:

See the post from November 11: