Entre Requebrados, Batuques e Liberdades : música, festa e mulher negra no imediato pós-Abolição em Belém-PA (1888-1889)

Abstract

The second half of the XIX century was the stage for significant transformations in several areas of the social realm in Brazil, especially the changes in social structures and relationships - highlighting the abolition of slavery in 1888. Considering that newspapers occupied places of influence, as a linker of opinions, here we develop a study based on journalistic sources, investigating the public presence of the black and mestiço population in the immediate post-abolition (1888-1889), in the city of Belém-PA, looking for traces that demonstrate the movement of the popular and ascertaining the views of journalists and literati, paying special attention to a social analysis of the perceptions of journalists and writers over black women in musical and festive manifestations. In this context, the black population already marked their presence against attempts of invisibilization and oppression, guiding their existence and resistance, daily, not only through an organized movement - as were the white abolitionist associations - but, using their bodies, beliefs and traditions. Such individuals employed various uses of music and festivities, using it not only as a means of entertainment, but as an expressive, political, and strategic instrument.