Glossary
Abolition of Slavery in Brazil (1888)
The official end of slavery in Brazil on May 13, 1888, making it the last country in the Americas to formally abolish the institution.
Example:
The Abolition of Slavery in Brazil in 1888 marked a pivotal moment, freeing the remaining 1.5 million enslaved people and concluding a long struggle for freedom.
African Diaspora
The global dispersion of people of African descent, largely due to the transatlantic slave trade, and the resulting communities and cultures formed outside of Africa.
Example:
The vibrant cultural expressions like Capoeira and Congada are powerful examples of the enduring legacy of the African Diaspora in Brazil.
Capoeira
An Afro-Brazilian martial art developed by enslaved Africans, combining elements of dance, acrobatics, and music.
Example:
Enslaved people practiced Capoeira as a form of self-defense and cultural expression, often disguised as a dance to avoid suspicion from enslavers.
Catholic Church (Influence on Manumission)
The religious institution that, in Portuguese and Spanish colonies, encouraged the freeing of enslaved individuals as an act of piety, contributing to higher rates of manumission.
Example:
The Catholic Church in Brazil played a role in promoting manumission, viewing the freeing of enslaved people as a virtuous act.
Congada
A Brazilian cultural and religious celebration honoring the King of Kongo and Our Lady of the Rosary, blending African and Catholic traditions.
Example:
The vibrant Congada procession, with its drumming and elaborate costumes, showcases the enduring syncretism of African and Catholic beliefs in Brazil.
Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order issued by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring the freedom of enslaved people in the Confederate states during the American Civil War.
Example:
The Emancipation Proclamation shifted the focus of the Civil War, linking the Union cause directly to the liberation of enslaved people.
Escravo Mina and Escrava Mina
19th-century photographs by José Christiano de Freitas Henriques Junior, offering a rare visual record of enslaved individuals from the Mina Coast region in Brazil.
Example:
The stark images of Escravo Mina and Escrava Mina serve as a poignant reminder of the dehumanizing reality and human cost of slavery in Brazil.
Festival of Our Lady of the Rosary
An 18th-century artwork by Carlos Julião depicting Afro-Brazilian religious and cultural practices, showcasing the blending of African spirituality with Catholic elements.
Example:
The painting Festival of Our Lady of the Rosary provides a visual testament to the resilience of African cultural traditions in colonial Brazil, even under oppressive conditions.
Iberian Laws
Legal traditions originating from Spain and Portugal that influenced the institution of slavery in their colonies, often providing more avenues for enslaved people to gain freedom compared to Anglo-American laws.
Example:
The influence of Iberian Laws meant that enslaved individuals in Brazil sometimes had legal pathways to purchase their freedom or appeal for manumission.
Manumission
The act of an enslaved person being formally released from slavery by their enslaver.
Example:
In Brazil, the practice of manumission was more common, allowing a significant number of enslaved individuals to gain their freedom before official abolition.
Middle Passage
The brutal sea journey that forcibly transported enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.
Example:
Millions of Africans endured the horrific conditions of the Middle Passage, packed tightly into ships with little food or sanitation.
Transatlantic Slave Trade
The forced transportation of millions of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Example:
The Transatlantic Slave Trade profoundly shaped the demographics, economies, and cultures of both Africa and the Americas.