Communities in Goiás and Amazonas receive self-definition as quilombola (descendants of escaped slaves).
More than 200 documents have been issued, benefiting communities across the country.
Luiz Claudio Ferreira - Reporter for Agência Brasil
Farmer Joaquim Moreira, 86 years old, born and raised in the rural community of Antinha de Baixo, in Santo Antônio do Descoberto (GO), prepared himself for the emotions he would experience this Friday (22).
He wore a blue button-down shirt and a black hat to honor the moment of officially receiving the certificate of self-recognition as a remnant quilombo community. The document was issued by the Palmares Cultural Foundation and was officially presented on the entity's 37th anniversary, which took place in Brasília.
Moreira received the certificate from the foundation's president, João Jorge Santos Rodrigues, and the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes. "I was born there," the farmer said before the officials.
More than 200 documents like this have been issued in the last two years, benefiting communities across the country.
For Agência Brasil, Joaquim Moreira said that he has always lived in the same house, as have his parents and grandparents. It was with them that the boy learned to plant cassava and rice, and to be fascinated by the growth of the sugarcane field.
"Before, it grew faster. It rained more. There was no shortage of water in the nearby streams," he recalled.
XNUMXst step
The certificate is the first step for researchers from the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra) to carry out the anthropological study in order to prove the origins of the settlement of traditional communities in the territory.
As issued on August 1st, Incra anthropologists have already begun collecting material on the centuries-old presence in the place they previously called “Antinha dos Pretos”.
The certificate also guarantees community protection and access to public policies for residents. In the case of this region, which has been the subject of legal disputes since the 1940s, a local decision even removed 28 families to benefit the estates of other rural producers.
Then, with the Palmares Foundation's certification, the Supreme Federal Court sent the case to the federal court for analysis, which suspended the eviction.
"We were very close to losing our home. The certificate protects us," explains one of the quilombola leaders and descendant, Williaderson Moreira.
Urban community
In addition to the certification for Antinha de Baixo, in the city surrounding the Federal District, the event celebrating the anniversary of the Palmares Foundation also presented the certificate of self-recognition as a quilombola to the urban community of Baixa da Xanda, in the city of Parintins (AM).
"Our history dates back to the 19th century," said retiree Maria do Carmo Monteverde, 86, who sang a song to honor her parents. It was her family who created Boi Garantido. "I remember everything. I'm a root in this place," she said, standing next to her daughter, Magali, 55. "It's a victory that preserves the memory of my grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents."
For democracy
Present at the anniversary event of the Palmares Foundation, the entity's first president, Carlos Alves, 85, said that society will experience "full democracy when differences disappear." He recalled that the foundation's origin was related to the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution.
The celebration was also attended by ambassadors from African nations in Brazil, including Cameroon's Martin Mbeng. "This organization is a living bridge between our continent and your great nation."
The event also announced a partnership with the University of Brasília (UnB) to create a documentation platform for the national documentation system for quilombola and terreiro communities. Another initiative was the launch of a booklet on reporting anti-racist issues.
The foundation's president, João Jorge Rodrigues, argued that it is necessary to convince Brazilians, both Black and non-Black people, to fight against racism. "We are the voice of equality and freedom," he stated.
For Minister Margareth Menezes, reparations actions safeguard the memory of Black people. Furthermore, she understands that valuing cultural works produced by Black people is fundamentally important, including for Brazil's sovereignty.
"We need to strengthen the safeguarding of our values," said the minister.
