Celebrations, citizenship and parties: the black associativism in

Author(s)

Willian Robson Soares Lucindo

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
• Defense date: 2020-03-06

Examining board members

Silvia Hunold Lara; Fernanda Oliveira da Silva; Lucilene Reginaldo; Mário Augusto Medeiros da Silva; Petrônio José Domingues

• Advisor: Silvia Hunold Lara

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the history of organizations run by groups of blacks, identified as men of color, in the cities of Campinas and Piracicaba in the first three decades of the twentieth century, and their actions for the citizenship of black populations. In the years following the Abolition, several articles published in newspapers in the two cities of Oeste Paulista complained about the absence of local celebrations to the law that ended the slave system, while in the rest of the country the date was marked by large festivities. There were groups of men of color who took to the streets giving lives, but the writers wanted civic rites, solemnities that they considered to be characteristic of the great celebrations. In Piracicaba, a group of blacks decided to create a society with the aim of not letting the date fall by the wayside, promoting civic processions, and, although the party is their only goal for years, served other aspects of daily life. In Campinas, there were more entities and because this the black associativism had many purposes: there were associations of mutual aid, recreational, dramatic, dancing, sports, instructive. Celebrating May 13 was also important. The men of color from the two cities sought to gain respect of the ruling sectors, at a time of strong stigmatization and inferiorization of black populations. There were many arguments in favor of partial citizenship: blacks could not enjoy all rights because they needed to learn to live in a society guided by the free work; confused freedom with idleness; were driven by their addictions to crime and prostitution. That¿s why black populations needed to be watched. Men of color created codes of conduct to present different from this image and to present themselves as able to live under the new Republican regime, as free men. To some extent, they were successful: they were viewed respectfully, their parties were considered acts of patriotism and gained spaces in local newspapers. However, the praise did not extend to the rest of the black population. They were worthy, precisely because they didn¿t look like "others black people". Although they accepted and highlighted this distinction, men of color fought for the moral elevation of black people. The research used articles published in black press newspapers, minutes of associations and documents of municipal governments, to analyze different aspects of the performance of associations of men of color in Campinas and Piracicaba, proposing that the parties, celebrations, tributes and recreational activities they organized were part of an anti-racist struggle that, at the beginning of the century, sought to conquer citizenship rights for the black populations of these two cities (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/21428-4 - Parties and festivities of the Colored Men Associations in the State of São Paulo (1897-1931)
• Grantee: Willian Robson Soares Lucindo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate