Petitions from africans and afro-descendants in São Paulo and Rio Das Mortes (1780 - 1807)

• Grant number: 24/05714-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Slemian
• Grantee: Fabiane Silva Peruzzo
• Host Institution: Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (EFLCH). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Guarulhos. Guarulhos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to examine how Africans and Afro-descendants (including slaves, freed individuals, and free persons) utilized petitions, representations, and requests originating from the districts of São Paulo (within the captaincy of São Paulo) and Rio das Mortes (within the captaincy of Minas Gerais) as a potential avenue to address their grievances. Spanning from 1780 to 1807, a period marked by economic expansion, diversification, and a rise in the slave population across both captaincies, this study views them as interconnected spaces characterized by similar experiences. Building upon previous research conducted during the Scientific Initiation, which focused on petitions in São Paulo, this project seeks to delve into the various types of requests and complaints, as well as the discourses and strategies employed by individuals in advocating for their rights and addressing injustices. Furthermore, this work aims to assess the extent to which this social segment leveraged the submission of petitions, both to the local captaincy government and to the Conselho Ultramarino in Lisbon.