Slave Resistance In Quilombos

Despite Brazil being the last country to abolish slavery in 1888, there was a considerable amount of resistance to slavery before this, so much that runaway slaves formed separate communities called Quilombos. Throughout history, slave resistance has taken many forms. During Latin America’s colonial period in which the film is set, escape was the most tangible slave resistance method. Thus, escape occurred constantly both individually and through large rebel slave groups. This is how Palmares, an area in the mountains of northeastern Brazil, became the center for blacks seeking refuge from enslavement at white sugar plantations. In contrast to other Quilombos, Palmares was rare for its longevity and for its ability to grow as a society despite

The film touches on the history of Palmares as a community of resistance to the oppressive institution of slavery in Brazil. Quilombos provides the viewer with a window into the life of someone living in Palmares during the 17th century. Today, the community of Palmares is a symbol for the continued resistance by Afro-Brazilians against slavery as well as an active choice for freedom and equality in Brazil. Palmares, even at its end, became an inspiration for other quilombo communities, not only because it was one of the first, but because of the strength and duration of the fight it put up against the Portuguese. Palmares represented tolerance and harmony for Africans, and still is an inspiration to Brazilians today. The film presents a historical context for Palmares’ social, political and religious preservation of African culture, as well as an analysis of this context for the purpose of understanding Palmares’ role in Brazilian history. Quilombos not only unveils the political and social structure of Palmares but also its place as a resistance to slavery and racial oppression. Palmares’ internal structure resembled that of African Kingdoms in that it was a version of a confederacy with a ruler presiding over the community. Palmares made its mark in Brazilian history as one of the earliest and largest quilombos, able to

Half large armies, half democracies, Quilombos were multiethnic communities that were remarkably resistant to Portuguese invasions. Carlos Diegues’ Quilombos depicts the rise and fall of Palmares, as told through the epic battles of great heroes, the self sacrifice of black slaves, and the victory against both racism and slavery. In part, this movie is about creating a history of the transfer of African culture to the Americas. The institution of slavery, which lasted longer in Brazil than most colonies, is the very basis for mythologizing stories through the use of factual history as a context for fantasy. Thus, this film is not simply a history of a slave community attempting to recreate Africa. It is the early history of Brazil, and because of this, the film redefines Brazilian national identity through myth and fantasy intertwined with the gruesome and oppressive history of Afro-Brazilian