The Portuguese traveled to colonial Brazil in order to find riches such as silver or gold. The Portuguese seemed destined for happiness; however, the Africans that arrived in Brazil did not hold their future to the same esteem as the Portuguese. The Portuguese enslaved the Africans as the Indigenous population dwindled from disease and overwork. Once Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, the poorest of the Brazilian society (mainly the Afro-Brazilians) were on their own. As industrialization led to urbanization after 1930, the poor in Brazil built shanties, which led to the beginning of favelas. Those residing in the favelas viewed everyday survival as a challenge due to unemployment or underemployment, lack of nutrition, and lack of money. Carolina Maria de Jesus, the great-grandchild of slaves, was born into poverty and migrated to the favelas of Sao Paulo in hopes of finding employment. Although she found some success through her writings...