QUILOMBOLA STRUGGLES in BAHIA Adam Bledsoe A
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DEFENDER NOSSO PEDAÇO DE CHÃO: QUILOMBOLA STRUGGLES IN BAHIA Adam Bledsoe A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Geography in the College of Arts and Sciences. Chapel Hill 2016 Approved by: Alvaro Reyes Altha Cravey Sara Smith Banu Gökariksel Kia Caldwell © 2016 Adam Bledsoe ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Adam Bledsoe: Defender Nosso Pedaço de Chão: Quilombola Struggles in Bahia (Under the direction of Alvaro Reyes and Altha Cravey) This research examines the territorial understandings and practices of three “quilombo” communities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, as they seek to protect their way of life amidst a series of land grabs enacted by public and private actors. These quilombos, which were started by slaves and runaway slaves over two hundred years ago, are located in the Bay of Aratu—an area that took on national importance as a site of industry and shipping in the mid- 20th century. Because of this, the communities have spent nearly sixty years struggling to defend their territories against the enclosures, environmental degradation, and irreversible topographical changes that typify state, military, and industrial presence in the area. While the tactics and discourses employed by the quilombos reflect the realities of present-day Brazil and attend to the shortcomings of the country’s “progressive” government, I argue that the quilombola struggle is part of a much larger legacy of Black Geographies. I define Black Geographies as the spatial expressions of those that recognize the inherent violence of modern territorial practices and notions of human hierarchy and seek to create a world not defined in these exclusive terms. Using qualitative and participatory methods, I explore the ways in which the Quilombos from the Bay of Aratu analyze the oppressive qualities of Brazil’s prevailing political and economic climate and how the communities’ own territorial arrangements work to protect against these violent expressions while simultaneously creating geographies that value and promote Black life. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe a great deal of thanks to numerous people, without whom this dissertation would not even be possible. Alvaro Reyes took a chance on me as a young graduate student, challenging me to immerse myself in a number of literatures and theoretical frameworks. His classes, independent studies, and the numerous conversations we had are imprinted throughout this dissertation. Altha Cravey supported me as a graduate student from my first day in Chapel Hill. Whether as a mentor, independent study supervisor, or co-adviser, she always made time for me and my thoughts, anxieties, aspirations, and emerging intellectual ideas. Sara Smith was a constant source of generosity and critical feedback during my time in Chapel Hill. Helping with everything from IRB proposals, to feedback on CVs, to keen readings of papers and manuscripts, Sara has always been more than giving of her time and energy. Banu Gökariksel helped pique my interest in feminist geographical literature and critical theory during my third year in Chapel Hill. Her influence on this dissertation is unquestionable. Kia Caldwell has provided immensely important feedback and suggestions regarding my ideas on Brazil and Blackness in Brazil. This dissertation is, without a doubt, a much stronger product thanks to her input. My time in graduate school has been marked by the presence of a wonderful group of colleagues and friends, all of whom have influenced me in unique ways. While many people have affected me for the better over the past six years, I am especially indebted to Chris Courtheyn, Stevie Larson, Mabel Gergan, Yousuf Al-Bulushi, Pavithra Vasudevan, Willie Wright, Conor Harrison, Haruna Suzuki, and Priscilla Vaz. The laughs, thoughts, disagreements, hopes, and friendship we shared together is perhaps the most important confluence of things I iv have experienced over the past six years. I can honestly say I would not have been able to do this without you all. My family has continued to support me in my endeavors to see and experience the world. This has generally meant being many miles away from them for long amounts of time. Still, the knowledge that they support me and are always cheering for me helps to keep me going. I therefore owe a debt to Mom, Dad, Alex, Dominic, Jordan, and Grandpa for having my back, even while thousands of miles away. In the same manner, Alyssia Paskvan has also supported me, mostly from a distance. Despite coming into my life in the middle of my graduate school tenure, she has nonetheless supported me as if she had been there from day one. Roy Kay continues to be one of the most important mentors and intellectual influences in my life. For the past eleven years I have been able to rely on him for encouragement, honest feedback, and important suggestions for my work and my life decisions. During my time in Brazil, I made acquaintances that became friends that became family. To them I owe the fact that I know whenever I am in Salvador I am cared for and looked after. Dario, Silvinha, Dona Ednalva, Seu Antônio, Daise, Dona Celia, Seu Expedito, Ditinho, Leo, Heide, Laise, Jheison, Dona Celia, Sandro, Andre, Viviane, Jota, and Leilane; to you I owe having a home away from home during the months I spend in Bahia. Finally, and most importantly, I am greatly indebted to, and dedicate this work to, the quilombolas of Rio dos Macacos, Tororó, and Ilha de Maré. I cannot express, in Portuguese or English, how much being amongst these communities has meant to me. Courageous does not even begin to describe the strength these quilombolas show on an everyday basis as they remain on the front lines of perhaps one of the most important struggles happening in the world today. From them, I learned that other worlds are both possible and in existence right this very moment. v It has been the greatest privilege to learn from them, and it is something I hope to do for a long time. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................... xi Quilombos and Rural Black Communities in Bahia ....................................................................................... 1 Quilombos from the Bay of Aratu ................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Project Background ................................................................................................................................... 3 Positionality .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Methodology and Framework ................................................................................................................ 11 Chapter Breakdown ................................................................................................................................ 18 On not essentializing quilombismo ......................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 The State of Bahia, Region of Aratu, and its role in Order and Progress ................................................ 25 History of the Quilombos’ Struggles ....................................................................................................... 32 Rio dos Macacos ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Land Grabs .......................................................................................................................................... 35 The Violence of the Navy .................................................................................................................... 37 Ilha de Maré ............................................................................................................................................ 43 Tororó ..................................................................................................................................................... 46 vii Chapter 2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 The Black in Brazil ................................................................................................................................... 54 Post-Abolition ......................................................................................................................................... 58 Immigration............................................................................................................................................. 59 Multiracialism and Racial Democracy ..................................................................................................... 60 Pre-Abolition Black Struggle in Brazil .....................................................................................................