Entre esquecimentos e silêncios: Manuel Padeiro e a memória da escravidão no distrito de Quilombo, Pelotas, RS.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate along with the residents of the Quilombo District in Pelotas (RS) and the rural black community of Alto do Caixão, which lies on the District itself, the slavery experience memories and the experience as a Quilombo. By paying special attention to the residents of the community of Alto do Caixão, it was sought to investigate how public policies have influenced this rural black community life. Which role can be considered as links between the community and government to implement these policies? Do these actions contribute to establish a condition of citizenship for its members? To answer these questions, some primary sources were used, such as the crime of Mariano process, City Council Proceedings of Pelotas (nineteenth century), current laws on the rural black communities recognition process and bibliography that deals with the themes slavery, quilombo, memory and heritage. On the research field, a contact with the residents of Quilombo District and Communities of Alto do Caixão and Algodão was made, as well as with people who have participated on the orientation process of those residents seeking to know about public policies that are applied to these groups. It was sought to know about the origins of the Quilombo District in the nineteenth century, on the character of Quilombo Manuel Padeiro and its resistance against slavery in Pelotas. It was also sought to show that the slavery memories remind things that were silenced throughout time and have been recollected in a new perspective in the last few years. By bringing out a discussion of this new perspective of Cultural Heritage, which has been paying attention to the Imaterial (knowledge-doings) and Natural Cultural Patrimony, it was tried to demonstrate, through references to landscape elements, that the residents of Alto do Caixão and local residents recall as a whole Quilombo District and Pelotas City history on its different facets, such as slavery, jerked beef farms and Quilombo. Finally, it was asked whether an attempt of patrimonializing Manuel Padeiro character and/ or knowledge-doings of the Black Rural Community of Alto do Caixão contribute affirmatively to the self-esteem of these residents.