Alba Roballo


Alba Roballo, was a Uruguayan lawyer, politician and poet. Her identity as an Afro-Uruguayan earned her the nickname La Negra Roballo.

Early life

Born in the northern corner of the country, she studied and graduated as a lawyer from the University of the Republic.

Political career

Roballo was member of the Colorado Party. In 1955–1959 she was a member of the Municipal Council of Montevideo. She served as a senator from 1958-1968 and again from 1971–1973.
She was the first Uruguayan woman to serve as a cabinet minister in 1968, during the first year in office of Jorge Pacheco Areco.
In 1971 she left the Colorado Party and helped to form the new leftist party Frente Amplio, though "she stayed a Batllist" all her life.

Personal life

She married Walter Previtali with whom she had a son, Sergio Previtali. Her son joined her in the Frente Amplio as a founding member.

Biography