Warriors Wage A Battle For Black Freedom In Brazil In The 1600s

[bemildred]

A little history.

By 1671 in Northeastern Brazil, the Americas' first independent republic was thriving.
Its population was between 20,000 and 30,000. The fertile lands were producing surplus food for trade with nearby sugar plantations, and its residents were happy and free. The success of the West's first democracy was much to the chagrin of the Portuguese, who colonized Brazil.

That is because the first independent, democratic state to be founded in the American colonies was in fact the quilombo of Palmares. Established in 1596 by African runaway slaves, Indians (indigenous Brazilians) and mixed-race fugitives, Palmares set a dangerous precedent, whose fame spread to plantations across Brazil. The European colonists and the Portuguese Crown were determined to destroy Palmares by any means necessary.

Zumbi was born a free Black in the quilombo of Palmares in 1655. He was nephew to the quilombo's king, Ganga Zumba. During a raid on his village around 1662, the child was taken prisoner, made a slave and given as a gift to a Portuguese priest. The priest took a liking to Zumbi and baptized him Francisco. He was an exceedingly bright child and assisted the priest in giving Catholic Mass while he studied Portuguese and Latin. In 1670, after 8 years in captivity, Zumbi escaped and returned home to the quilombo, now a man. Having learned the language, culture, strengths and weaknesses of his enemy, Zumbi would come to lead Palmares in its most fierce battles against the Portuguese and mercenary armies.

Zumbi came into leadership when the king Ganga Zumba was poisoned. The Portuguese governor and Ganga Zumba had declared a truce and established a treaty guaranteeing the residents of Palmares would retain liberty and rights to their lands, if they stopped raiding plantations to free Black slaves. Zumbi, part of a more radical faction within the quilombo, could not accept freedom for some Blacks and slavery for others. Soon after his uncle's death, he broke the accord, making the colony of Brazil and the Black republic within it steadfast enemies. With the intent of annihilating the quilombo, the Portuguese launched attacks for almost two decades spending over 1.4 million cruzeiros in an all out war against Palmares.

Zwire

[gordianot]

1. A dangerous idea. A society built on tolerance and acceptance.

How sad, these sorts of arrangements are not generally recognized or taught.

Nella Fantasy

[Kagemusha]

2. Tolerance, acceptance, and liberating people from colonies by force

I think that last part probably had something to do with the reaction.

Not that I have any sympathy for slavedrivers, past or present. But states tend to respond when attacked.

[gordianot]

4. Humans are still Primates, that is how we respond.

Our evolutionary advantage is still developing and we may be a dead end.

There may be an advantage someday to cooperation with other groups of humans, and to reject the leadership of the alpha males.

[bemildred]

3. It seemed to me that it is worth remembering these people.

The struggle for human freedom and dignity has been going on for longer than we are told. The slaves never accepted their subjugation, and this puts the lie to all the racist blather about IQs and other similar shit.

The story of Haiti is telling too, they have never been forgiven for kicking the French's ass 200 years ago, and that tells you a good deal about both Haitians and the French.