Abstract
On 13 May 1888, Princess Isabel, Regent of the Empire of Brazil, signed into law the emancipation of all slaves in the country, and masses of her subjects took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to celebrate. Two years later, Brazilians, now under a provisional republican government, witnessed another momentous event in the history of African slavery. On 14 December 1890, Rui Barbosa, Minister of Finance and Internal Affairs, ordered a thorough search of the archives that had been kept by the Portuguese colonial authorities and later by the Imperial government.1 All records pertaining to slavery were to be located and burned. Barbosa hoped to remove a blot from the national character. If, as Michel de Certeau suggests, ‘writing produces history,’ then Barbosa single-handedly succeeded in wiping out much of the history of millions of Brazilians of African descent.2
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
