For Land and Liberty: Black Struggles in Rural Brazil

For Land and Liberty explores the history and struggles of Brazil's quilombola communities, who face challenges accessing land and facing systemic racism. The book argues that quilombola identity is rooted in history and local initiatives offer new perspectives on resistance and mobilization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

For Land and Liberty is a comprehensive exploration of the historical and contemporary realities surrounding Brazil's quilombos, or African-descent rural communities, and their inhabitants, the quilombolas. The book delves into the contentious nature of quilombola claims to land as a focal point of contention over citizenship and its profound implications for Afro-descendants. It also examines the intricate connections between quilombolas and the broader struggle against racism. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that quilombola identity is a recent invention, crafted solely to capitalize on opportunities afforded by the 1988 law, Bowen compellingly argues that quilombola claims have deep historical and local roots. She uncovers how state actors have collaborated with large landholders and modernization schemes to seize quilombo land, and further highlights the ongoing challenges faced by quilombolas, even after obtaining land titles, due to the pervasive effects of systemic racism. Through a meticulous analysis of the quilombo movement and local initiatives, this book presents fresh insights into the resurgence of movements, mobilization, and resistance in Brazil.

Introduction:
For Land and Liberty offers a profound examination of the complex relationship between land, identity, and social justice in Brazil. By focusing on the quilombos, or African-descent rural communities, and their inhabitants, the quilombolas, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical and contemporary circumstances that shape their lives.

Historical Context:
The quilombos have a rich and complex history that dates back to the era of slavery in Brazil. They were formed as a result of the forced displacement of African slaves and their descendants from the coastal regions to the interior of the country. These communities have faced numerous challenges, including discrimination, marginalization, and the loss of their traditional lands and livelihoods.

Citizenship and Land Rights:
One of the central themes of For Land and Liberty is the struggle for quilombola citizenship and land rights. The book explores the ways in which quilombolas have asserted their claims to land, often facing resistance and hostility from state actors and large landholders. Quilombola identity is often seen as a threat to the established order, and their claims to land are often contested and disputed.

State Actors and Modernization Schemes:
State actors have played a significant role in the dispossession and marginalization of quilombolas. Bowen argues that they have colluded with large landholders and modernization schemes to appropriate quilombo land, often at the expense of the quilombola communities. These schemes have involved the construction of dams, highways, and other infrastructure projects that have displaced quilombolas from their ancestral lands and disrupted their traditional ways of life.

Resistance and Mobilization:
Despite the challenges they face, quilombolas have demonstrated remarkable resilience and mobilization. They have formed community organizations, engaged in legal battles, and advocated for their rights through grassroots initiatives. Quilombola communities have also sought to reclaim their land and restore their traditional livelihoods through agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, and other sustainable development practices.

Conclusion:
For Land and Liberty is a valuable contribution to the study of land, identity, and social justice in Brazil. The book offers a nuanced and empathetic understanding of the quilombola communities and their struggles for land and citizenship. It highlights the ongoing challenges faced by these communities and the urgent need for systemic change to address the historical and ongoing injustices they have faced. By examining the quilombo movement and local initiatives, the book provides fresh perspectives on the resurgence of movements, mobilization, and resistance in Brazil.

ISBN-13: 9781108928953