Ideas to Postpone The End of The World

Ailton Alves Lacerda Krenak is a writer, philosopher, and Indigenous rights activist of Krenak ethnicity based in Brazil. Born in the Rio Doce region of Minas Gerais, Krenak moved to Paraná at 17 where he became a journalist and soon after an outspoken campaigner for Indigenous rights. Famous for his speech in 1987 at the Constituent Assembly during which he spread black genipap ink on his face as he lamented setbacks to Indigenous rights, Krenak’s expression of his worldview continues to perform a unique and creative critique on humanity, culture, and the environment. In this excerpt from his 2020 book Ideas to Postpone the End of the World, Krenak advocates for other worldviews—for the “imaginary capacity”…