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Historical Note
Brazil was by far the world's largest importer of slaves. More than 3.5
million were shipped to Brazil in chains - six times the number taken
to the United States. The slave legacy has given Brazil more blacks than
any country outside Africa. Brazil did not abolish slavery until 1888,
and it was 100 years before the government took the first step towards
giving rights to the slaves' descendants, by introducing a law guaranteeing
their cultural status.
Slave Descendant Communites: Quilombos
After abolition, what remained were small communities of African and African-ancestored
slaves. These communities are known as quilombos. An estimated
656 of these communities are working for recognition. Many quilombos remain
intact because of Brazil's size and the fact that the country was by far
the largest importer of slaves. The most recent figures puts the black
population at 6 per cent of the Brazilian total and the mulatto at 38
per cent: at least 70 million people in all. Despite Brazil's image of
racial harmony, blacks still suffer much discrimination and few are in
positions of power.
References
--Guardian Unlimited. "Scions
of slaves win land". April 1, 1999
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