Black leaders and their concept of freedom in nineteenth century northeast Brazil

Abstract

This article explores the leadership of two Brazilians of African heritage, Cosme Bento Chagas and Francisco do Nascimento, both men fought against slavery and racism in the northeast of Brazil in the nineteenth century. They were both born and raised in Ceará, which was the first state to end slavery, in 1884. Cosme would become a major leader in the Balaiada movement, which lasted from 1838 to 1841. Cosme and his troops fought against slavery and racism, but their movement was ultimately a failure. Francisco Nascimento would fight against slavery in the early 1880s and ultimately have success. This article details the strategies and limitations of both men while examining important differences in the historical circumstances they faced.

Keywords:

• Balaiada
• black leaders
• northeast Brazil
• Cosme Bento Chagas
• Francisco do Nascimento
• slavery

Notes

1. In this era it was common for free men of African ancestry to refer to themselves as freemen of color and when I use this term I am also referring to people of African ancestry.

2. It was not uncommon for people of African ancestry to own other people of African ancestry. This is mentioned frequently in secondary sources, though there seems to be few studies that focus on the relationship of blacks owning other blacks. We do know that Africans in Africa practiced slavery, but the dynamics of slavery were completely different and were not based on ideas of racial inferiority. The relationship between blacks and their slaves was a complex one and in Brazil it was often different from a white owning a black. This was especially true in the case of libertos who owned slaves and who were born in slavery.