“Racism and white supremacy are issues that have been ignored in Brazil,” she said. “This continues to be a central issue in Brazilian society and this event will lead us to pay much more attention to how black women are depicted and commodified in Brazilian culture.”

Ms. Araujo and many Brazilians said the mere presence of women dressed in the traditional baiana outfit of white blouse, skirt, headwrap and beads should not be construed as racist.

The character of the baiana, which translates as a woman from the state of Bahia, has become a symbol of the state and of black Brazil, said one person who reposted the photo and commented on it. For many of the women who wear the garb, it is an important part of their identity.

It is also a way to earn a living for many: Women in the starched white outfit are often hired to meet tourists disembarking from cruises in Bahia and can be seen selling traditional street food.

But the figure, cast uncritically, can evoke a racist past. Ms. Araujo said that the photo in which Ms. Meirelles is sitting, surrounded by baianas, was insensitive — or at least tone deaf.

Among those who expressed anger over the photos was the renowned singer Elza Soares, who is black. In a furious statement on Instagram, she wrote about “wounds that have not healed.”

“Black flesh used to be the cheapest on the market but not anymore,” she added. “We’ll yell that out to anyone who hasn’t understood it yet. Slavery is not a joke.”